Kazakh national day marked

Exotic sweet dishes, various products, and national dresses were on display at the celebration of the 21st independence day of Kazakhstan at Hyatt Park Jeddah on Saturday.
Guests got the chance to wear the traditional Kazakh costume for a personal photo shoot. A documentary on the development of Kazakhstan was shown on a big screen.
Chief guest of the program Mohammed N. Bokharee, director of the protocol department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with consuls general of several countries, high officials, diplomats, businessmen, and media personalities were present on the occasion.
Bakyt Batyrshayev, permanent representative of Kazakhstan at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), welcomed the guests on behalf of Omar Mustafin, consul general of Kazakhstan in Jeddah.
“The 19-year-long experience of successful cooperation between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia has unfolded numerous opportunities for their development. Currently, bilateral partnership encompasses practically all areas of international relations,” said Batyrshayev. “Kazakhstan considers the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the international arena. We also acknowledge the unique role of the Kingdom in the Islamic world and in the protection of the Islamic values.”
He further said that the two brotherly countries were united in promoting international stability and a dialogue of civilizations. Both governments are keen to support the high level of bilateral political dialogue and deepen economic as well as humanitarian cooperation. “We endorse the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to create an international center for dialogue, which corresponds to the missions and goals of Kazakhstan’s initiative on the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions,” said Batyrshayev.
He acknowledged the brilliant success of the Haj 2012 and appreciated the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Makkah branch. He also acknowledged the successful chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OIC, and its effort to support positive transformations in the Middle East and North Africa, including democratic change in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya; advocating legitimate rights of Palestine; and promoting a peaceful solution in Syria.
He further explained the country’s economic development, which succeeded in establishing a strategic partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, and promoted the idea to establish an OIC food security institution in the capital city of Astana.
“The successful chairmanship was underlined by the recent decision of the International Exhibitions Bureau to elect Astana as the venue of the Expo 2017. Over the 21 years of its development, Kazakhstan has achieved unparalleled success. Today, our country is on the list of the 50 largest economies of the world, and we set the task to join the group of the 30 most developed nations by 2050,” said Bokharee.
Batyrshayev and Mustafin cut the cake to celebrate the occasion. The reception ended with an authentic Kazakh dinner.