Visit of HE MR MOHAMMAD HAMID ANSARI, Vice President of India to the Republic of KAZAKHSTAN 06 April 2008 - 10 April 2008
1.HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Indian Parliament) visited Kazakhstan from 06 -10 April 08 on the second leg of his two nation tour of Central Asian nations. The Vice President came to the country on an invitation from H.E. Mr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chairman of the Senate of Parliament of Kazakhstan. Hon’ble Vice President was accompanied by his wife Mrs Salma Ansari.
2.The Vice President who was on his first visit abroad after assumption of office, was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Minister of State for External Affairs HE Mr E. Ahamed and three MPs, HE Mrs Viplove Thakur, HE Mr Vijaykumar Rupani and HE Mr N.N. Krishnadas. The Vice President was in Astana from 06-08 Apr 08 and in Almaty from 08 April -10 April 08.
Astana 06 April 2008 – 08 April 2008.
3.The Vice President arrived in Astana on 06 April 08 evening by a Special Air India aircraft and was accorded a traditional welcome by the hosts.
4.The Vice President met the President of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev, HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate, HE Mr Karim K Massimov, the Prime Minister, and HE Mr Aslan Mussin, the Chairman of the Mazhilis during his stay at Astana. He addressed the Senate and the prestigious Academy of Public Administration. A glittering cultural program was organized by the Indian embassy on 07 April 08 evening to mark the occasion. Lunch and banquette in honour of the visiting dignitary were hosted by HE Mr Aslan Mussin, Chairman of the Mazhilis and HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate respectively. A reception hosted by HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar, Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan at the Embassy Residence marked the culmination of the visit in Astana.
5.Meeting with H.E. Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan.
Meeting of Vice President of India with President of Kazakhstan
HE Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev and HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari Exchanging Views
The Vice President met HE Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan on 08 Apr 08 and both the countries agreed to intensify cooperation in the hydro carbons sector, in the field of information technology, tourism and military-technical cooperation. Development of relations in the educational and technological spheres and increased cooperation in investment and banking were also discussed. India and Kazakhstan also affirmed their mutual support to the foreign policy initiatives undertaken by each other. The Kazakh President HE Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev invited HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari to take part in the third Congress of the World and Traditional Religions’ Leaders in Astana in 2009. The Vice President stated that India was looking forward to the proposed visit of President Nazarbayev to the country in 2008 which he opined would give a fresh impetus to the development of bilateral relations.
6.Meeting with HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate of Parliament of Kazakhstan.
Vice President Being Received by HE Mr KJ Tokayev
Meeting with Chairman of the Senate and Kazakh Delegation
The Vice President along with the delegation members met HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate and members of the Senate on 07 April 08. The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues. The Vice President in his statement after the delegation level talks with the Senate Chairman, stated that discussions on increasing trade and expanding the areas of economic cooperation, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector were held. Mr Tokayev stated that the discussions were devoted to strengthening Indo-Kazakhstan relations. He emphasized that India and Kazakhstan were “reliable partners” and announced the decision to establish a cooperation group to boost inter-parliamentary relations, trade and commerce. The senate chairman also supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.
Vice President and HE Mr KJ Tokayev expressing their views
The Vice President emphasized India’s support for promotion of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICMA), an initiative of the President of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev. He described his talks with his Kazakh counterpart as constructive and fruitful. He described the convergence of views on issues of mutual interest between the two countries as heartening and said that India valued the friendship and trust that Kazakhstan had shown towards it and reciprocated them fully.
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari and HE Mr KJ Tokayev at the Joint Press Statement
7.Address to the Senate.
HE Mr KJ Tokayev welcoming HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari addressing members of the
Senate of Parliament of Kazakhstan
Cross section of the distinguished audience
The Vice President in his address to the Senate dwelt on the subject of cooperation and said that relations between countries in the present day world and in the future would necessarily focus on mutually beneficial cooperation which would entail matching of requirements and capabilities. He said that this general proposition was also valid for bilateral cooperation between the two countries and offered Indian assistance to improve Kazakhstan’s educational sector.
The Vice President stated that though bilateral trade had increased from about $60 million in 2002 to about $196 million in 2007, there was ample scope for expansion of areas of economic cooperation between the two countries, whose economies had been registering impressive growth in recent years.
8.Meeting with H.E. Mr Karim K Massimov.
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari with HE Mr KarimK Massimov
Discussions between HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Indian Delegation with H.E. Mr Karim K Massimov and Kazakh Delegation
The Vice President met HE Mr Karim K Massimov, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan on 07 April 2008. The two leaders highlighted the dynamic and growing tempo of the bilateral cooperation in political, trade and economic fields and opined that there was considerable potential for further development of Kazakh-Indian relations. Both the leaders expressed their confidence in the successful development of Kazakh-Indian relations.
9.Meeting with Mr Aslan Mussin, the Chairman of the Mazhilis.
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari
Discussions in Progress
HE Mr Aslan Mussin and HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari Exchanging Views
Mr Aslan Mussin, in his meeting with the Vice President expressed his hope that the economic interaction between the two countries would increase and also that the Indo - Kazakh negotiations on Kazakhstan’s accession to WTO would be successfully concluded.
10.Address at the Academy of Public Administration.
Mr A Akhmetov, Rector of Academy of Public Administration Welcoming the Vice President
Address by HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India
The Vice President addressed the distinguished audience at the prestigious Academy of Public Administration in Astana. Welcoming the Vice-President, Rector of the Academy Prof Azhimzhan Akhmetov praised the Indian democracy and spoke about challenges in public administration in the era of globalisation. H.E. Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari speaking about "Public administration and governance in India" in his address described Panchayati Raj as the "greatest experiment" in democracy globally. He said that it had ensured participatory governance and broad based planning and implementation of programmes of economic development and social justice. He also described the Indian experiment since independence and referred to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Right to Information Act. The Vice President said that it has been lately recognised that development is not only about projects, programmes and policies, but also about politics.
11.Meeting of Minister of State for External Affairs H.E. Mr E Ahamed with H.E. Mr Marat Tazhin, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr E Ahamed in his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mr Marat Tazhin discussed the state of mutual relations and the prospects of development of bilateral cooperation in the hydro carbons sector, textile industry and in the field of education. Mr E Ahamed stated that both the countries had good prospects of mutual relations and that the forthcoming visit of the President of Kazakhstan in 2008 would give a new impetus to the mutual cooperation.
12.Lunch Hosted by H.E. Mr Aslan Mussin, Chairman of the Mazhilis.
HE Mr Aslan Mussin and HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari Speaking at the Lunch
Mrs Salma Ansari in the Kazakh National Custome presented by HE.Mr Aslan Mussin
Minister of State for External Affairs HE Mr E Ahamed, Indian and Kazakh Delegates at the Lunch
HE Mr Aslan Mussin, Chairman of the Mazhilis hosted a lunch for the Vice President at the Hotel Radission on 07 April 08. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President expressed his pleasure at being in Kazakhstan and his gratefulness for the excellent hospitality extended by the hosts. He stated that Kazakhstan had achieved huge progress in political, economic and social spheres within a short span of time as a new nation and had emerged as a country characterized by political stability and a strong economy. He affirmed that the relations between both the countries had always been cordial, friendly and termed the mutual relationship as dynamic and vibrant. He stated that there was enormous potential to expand the bilateral trade and improve the commercial relations between the two countries.
13.Banquette Hosted by H.E. Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate.
Vice President, Mrs Salma Ansari and H.E KJ Tokayev at the Banquette
Minister of State for External Affairs Mr E Ahamed, MPs and Kazakh dignitaries at the Banquette
Speeches by HE Mr KJ Tokayev and HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari
TOASTING INDIA-KAZAKHSTAN FRIENDHIP
HE Mr KJ Tokayev presenting Kazakh Traditional Dresses toHE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Mrs Salma Ansari
Vice President with HE Mr KJ Tokaey, HE Mr E Ahamed and HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar
Vice President and Mrs Ansari with HE Mr KJ Tokayev, HE Mr E Ahamed, HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar, Mrs Madhu Sajjanhar and Kazakh Senators
HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate, hosted a banquette in honour of the Vice President at the Hotel Rixos on 07 April 08. The Vice President expressed his pleasure at being in Astana and thanked the Chairman for the warmth and hospitality extended to him and the delegation. He stated that India admired Kazakhstan’s achievements since independence under the leadership of the President HE Mr Nursultan Nazarbayev and expressed his confidence that Kazakhstan would achieve great prosperity through the path that it had chosen for itself. He expressed his satisfaction at the progress of bilateral ties which were founded on strong historical and cultural linkages and stated that both countries shared similarity of views on important regional and international issues. He congratulated HE Mr KJ Tokayev for his valuable contribution in furthering bilateral ties between the two countries and expressed his confidence that the cooperation between the two countries would be consolidated further for mutual benefit.
14.Cultural Function at Presidential Cultural Centre, Astana.
Vice President, Mrs Salma Ansari and H..E Mr KJ Tokayev at the Cultural Function
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari and HE Mr KJ Tokayev lighting the lamp to mark the commencement of the Function
Katakh Performance by Prerana
Rendition of Popular Hindi Movie Songs by Padmini Roy
The Indian Embassy in Astana, hosted a cultural function to commemorate the visit of the Vice President. A cultural troupe from India comprising of Prerana Shrimali, an eminent exponent of Katakh along with Padmini Roy, well known singer, were specially flown in from India to perform. A troupe from the Centre for Indian Classical dance at Almaty also performed on the occasion. The Vice President, Mrs Ansari, HE Mr KJ Tokayev, Chairman of the Senate, HE. Mr E Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, accompanying MPs, other delegation members, members of the Senate and Mazhilis of Kazakhstan and members of the diplomatic corps attended the function. The performances of the artistes were immensely appreciated by the VIPs and all present.
15.Reception at Embassy Residence.
HE Mr Mohammad Hamid Ansari being received by HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar and Mrs Madhu Sajjanhar
Mrs Madhu Sajjanhar with the Vice President and Mrs Salma Ansari
Vice President endorsing his remarks in the visitor’s book at the Embassy Residence
Vice President with HE Mr KJ Tokayev
Vice President with Mr Musabeyev Talgat, Head of Kazakhstan Space Agency
Vice President with HE Mr Ashok Sajjanhar and Kazakh Dignitaries
A reception was hosted by H.E. Mr Ashok Sajjanhar and Mrs Madhu Sajjanhar at the embassy residence in honour of the Vice President. The reception which was attendec by H.E. Mr KJ Tokayev, large number of Senators, members of the Mazhilis, eminent Kazakh dignitaries and officials, Indian businessmen, journalists as well as by members of both delegations gave an opportunity for the Kazakh dignitaries present to meet and interact with the Vice President in an informal setting.
Almaty
The Vice President flew to Almaty on 08 April 08 on completion of his visit at Astana. He addressed the staff and students of the Al Farabi Kazakh National State University on 09 April 08. The Akim of Almaty hosted a lunch in the honour of the Vice President. The Vice President later visited Medeo and Shymbulak. The visiting dignitary met the members of the Indian community on 09 Apr 08 evening at a reception before proceeding for a dinner hosted by the Chairman of the Almaty Maslikhat. The Vice President visited the National Museum on 10 Apr 08 and was later accorded a traditional send off at the Almaty Airport.
Vice President’s Address at the Al Farabi Kazakh National State University.
The Vice President addressed the staff and students of the Al Farabi Kazakh National State University on 09 April 08. The Rector of the University Tolegen Kozhamkulov stated that cooperation between the university and India had developed since the opening of an oriental studies department in the university in 1992. The university had also started teaching Hindi since 1998. He stated that the National Institute of Information Technologies (NIIT) in collaboration with the university had opened the Kazakh-Indian Centre of Information Technologies which was a pioneer in the field in Central Asia. In his address to the students, the Vice President stated that India had set for itself a national objective of building a knowledge society which would be inclusive and humane. He stated that the most daunting task facing India’s new leaders was the speedy development of the human potential. He emphasised the physical proximity of Central Asia to India, the historical continuity of mutual relationship based on civilisation, culture and trade and the impact of globalisation. The Vice President stated that the relations between India and Kazakhstan had always been warm, friendly and close and also stressed the commonality between both countries which were multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-cultural societies committed to countering fundamentalism, religious extremism and terrorism. He stated that the views of both countries coincided or converged on all major regional and international questions and expressed his confidence that stronger and deeper relations between India and Kazakhstan would further contribute to increased prosperity and security not only for the people of both countries, but also for the region and the world. The Vice President was conferred a Honorary Doctorate by the University.
Conclusion
The Vice President termed his visit as very positive. The Vice President’s visit to Kazakhstan emphasized the strong, friendly and enduring ties between the two nations and has set the state for a more vibrant relationship between India and Kazakhstan |
