President Nazarbayev pays working visit to Germany

BERLIN. February 3. KAZINFORM /Aigul Tulekbayeva/ Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev starts his working visit to Germany today; Kazinform reports.

The official delegation includes Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin, the President?s aide on foreign affairs Kairat Sarybai, Minister of Economy and Budget Planning ? co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee Bakhyt Sultanov, Minister of Culture and Information Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed and other officials. The Head of the State visited Germany two years ago. The current visit is notable for an opening of ?The Year of Kazakhstan in Germany?. Analogous events were held in Ukraine and Russia. Nursultan Nazarbayev will meet with Federal President of Germany Horst Kohler and Chancellor Angela Merkel. A meeting with outstanding political figure, former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher will be held. Besides, the President will attend the Kazakh-German business forum and a concert dedicated to the opening of ?The Year of Kazakhstan in Germany?. Experts note that cooperation between Germany and Kazakhstan activated over the last years. Kazakhstan considers Germany as a reliable partner in the European Union and Germany finds our country as a leader in Central Asia. Germany is the sixth trade partner of Kazakhstan after Russia, China, Italy, Switzerland and France. The German Diaspora in Kazakhstan (230 thousand people), German migrants from our country (about 1 mln people), and ethnic Kazakhs who live in Germany (about 1 thousand people) are a connecting link between the countries.