Int'l conf to review results and prospects of Kazakhstan-US coop over 20 years

ASTANA. May 17. KAZINFORM A major international conference "Kazakhstan - USA: 20 Years of Partnership for Security and Development" will take place at the Nazarbayev Center in Astana, the multifunctional research and educational public institution, on Friday May 18, 2012.

The conference is dedicated to the 20^th anniversary of Kazakhstan-U.S. strategic partnership and is timed to coincide with the 20^th anniversary of the first official visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to the U.S. in 1992 at the invitation of President George H.W. Bush. The Nazarbayev Center and the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan are organizing the conference, the press service of the US Diplomatic Mission to Kazakhstan said.

The event will focus on the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the U.S. in the areas of non-proliferation and reduction of nuclear weapons, energy, trade and economic sectors, in the field of technology as well as democracy building and regional security.

"By holding this conference we are marking a special strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States, which will last for many years ahead," U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kenneth Fairfax noted.

A number of high-level officials, including Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kenneth Fairfax, will participate.

An exhibition, which will include archival photographic documents and reflect the history of the development of bilateral cooperation over the years of partnership, will take place at the conference.

Event live video streaming will be available at www.nuclearsafeworld.org .