Nazarbayev, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral Cooperation in Ankara, Actor Alimzhanov Talks Playing the President, Love of Movie,

1. A WEEKLY ONLINE PUBLICATION / WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ
ISSUE NO. 469 / FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016
Nazarbayev, Erdogan Discuss Bilateral
Cooperation inAnkara
Also InThe News
ActorAlimzhanovTalksPlayingthe
President,LoveofMovies
In Focus:
Foreign Policy Priorities

2. Nazarbayev,ErdoganDiscussBilateralCooperationinAnkara
Calling
Astana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 469/ 2 Back to Contents
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of
TurkeyRecepTayyipErdoganmetAug.5inAnkaratodiscussbilateral
cooperation and international issues. Nazarbayev was the first world
leader to visit the country after the failed coup attempt last month,
Erdogan noted during the visit.
“Turkey is one of the closest and most reliable political and economic
partners of our country,” Nazarbayev said in Ankara. “We have
growing relationships based on a common historical past and spiritual
heritage. Kazakhstan supports the Turkish people and is always ready
to provide any assistance.”
Nazarbayev emphasised the importance of the New Synergy joint
economic programme between the two countries, adopted during
Erdogan’s state visit to Astana last year. The goal of the programme
is to increase trade turnover between the countries to $10 billion and
as such provides for the implementation of 20 investment projects
worth $813 million, he said. He also invited Turkish businesses to
take part in Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol economic stimulus programme,
which focuses on infrastructure development and industrialisation.
“In this regard, it is important to create Kazakhstan-Turkey industrial
zones, which will help boost the further expansion of economic
opportunities between the two countries,” Nazarbayev said.
The President also noted the countries’ ongoing cooperation. “Today
in Kazakhstan, more than 1,600 enterprises using Turkish capital
are operating successfully,” he said. “Turkish businesses took an
active part in the construction of Astana. To date, representatives of
Turkish companies have performed construction work totalling $20
billion. Last year, the trade turnover between our countries totalled
$2 billion.”
According to the Turkish President’s official website, Erdogan
commended Kazakhstan as a highly important partner for Ankara.
“Over the past quarter-century, Kazakhstan has become one
of the most stable and economically-developed countries of its
region under the competent and visionary leadership of President
Nazarbayev. Turkey has the rightful pride of being the first-ever
country to recognize Kazakhstan’s independence. I congratulate
with heartfelt emotions President Nazarbayev and brotherly Kazakh
nation both on my own and my nation’s behalf on the occasion of
the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. Turkey is also a
strategic partner of Kazakhstan. We will hopefully hold soon in Turkey
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (right) and Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
the third meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council,
which was established back in 2011,” he said.
The two leaders said they intend to work together on ways to address
international security challenges, including terrorism. Erdogan
congratulated his guest with Kazakhstan’s recent election to the
United Nations Security Council. Nazarbayev also stressed the
importance of bilateral and humanitarian cooperation, and invited
Turkish citizens to Kazakhstan for EXPO 2017.
The Turkish president thanked Nazarbayev for his efforts to ease
tensions between Turkey and Russia over the past few months, and
for Kazakhstan’s recent support for Turkey.
President Nazarbayev and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
issued statements on July 16 condemning attempted coup in Turkey
and expressing full support to its democratically elected government,
as well as expressing condolences to the brotherly nation over the
loss of dozens of lives in clashes in Ankara and Istanbul during the
preceding night.
“Turkey is one of the closest
and most reliable political
and economic partners of
our country. We have growing
relationships based on a
common historical past and
spiritual heritage. Kazakhstan
supports the Turkish people
and is always ready to provide
any assistance.”

3. ActorAlimzhanovTalksPlayingthePresident,LoveofMovies
Calling
Astana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 469/ 3 Back to Contents
Nurlan Alimzhanov, who played President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbayev in the epic about the President’s life, has always wanted
to be an actor, he told the Kazpravda newspaper.
The Zhas Tulpar award winner fell in love with acting in his first role
in “Marriage Proposal,” based on a piece by his father, Bayangali
Alimzhanov. He then tried out theatre, TV and music before deciding
to focus on films.
“I come from Kenashy village in Kokshetau oblast,” Alimzhanov said.
“In our village, Indian and American movies were very popular. Bruce
Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mithun Chakraborty were our
idols. Trying to be like them, I started practicing taekwondo, especially
after watching ‘Double Impact’ with Van Damme, I can seriously say
that he was my teacher.”
When it came time to shoot “The Way of the Leader,” the role felt
natural, he said. “After the success of the first part, ‘The Sky of my
Childhood,’ it was decided to shoot the subsequent sections. … At the
beginning of my career, I never thought that I could play the role of
the President. It was destiny. I felt enormous responsibility,” the actor
admitted.
Alimzhanov also knew that if he focused too much on playing a
president, the characterisation wouldn’t work. Instead, he embodied
the determined young steel worker who had no idea he’d become a
leader, but wanted to satisfy his thirst for knowledge nonetheless.
“In the film, I just walk, step by step, to the top, which Nazarbayev did,”
Alimzhanov explained. “In order to do this, I communicated with his
friends and read everything I could find on him, especially memories
of the President and his classmates.”
During the nine-month shoot for the second part of the film, the
cast and crew travelled to Moscow, Ukraine, Finland, Estonia, Latvia,
and Belarus – but much of the movie was filmed in Kazakhstan,
in Temirtau, Karaganda oblast. Director Rustem Abdrashev and
production designer Sabit Kurmanbekova recreated the city as it was
in the middle of the past century, turning Temirtau into one giant set.
Learning about Nazarbayev’s steelworking years, Alimzhanov came to
understand by what hard labour the President and his colleagues had
earned their daily bread.
To convincingly portray a variety of characters, the actor listens and
watches people, travels, reads, and tries to meet new people.
Inadditiontohisimpressiveappearance,thehandsomeAlimzhanovis
a master of Kazakh literary language, which he attributes to his father.
“My father gave me a taste for reading … For me, literature, in terms of
spiritual development, is more important than cinema. I love rereading
Kazakh writers, such as Abay, Mukhtar Auezov, Gabit Musrepov, Sabit
Mukanova and my father, of course. From Russia, I like Gogol and
Dostoevsky. The book by British historian and traveller John Man,
‘Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan,’ has become my table-book,”
Alimzhanov said.
He also confesses to being a movie addict. “I … don’t miss a single
movie, domestic or foreign,” he said. “When friends suggest playing
billiards, going to a restaurant or something else, I say ‘Let’s go to the
movies.’ In the cinema, my soul relaxes. I learn from watching other
actors. This is my hobby.”
Alimzhanov has played the lead in a dozen other films. He rose to
prominencewithhisroleasoneofthebrothersintheseries“Againdar,”
(Kins) by Akan Satayev. But there are many more roles to aspire to on
the horizon, he said.
“In Kazakhstan, there are a lot of good directors and more unplayed
historical roles, like Khan Abylai, Saken Seifullin and the leaders of
the Alash Movement. In my heart, I cherish a dream to play at least
some of them. Although no one has offered me such a role yet, I am
preparing myself for them.”
Alimzhanov also knew that if he focused
too much on playing a president, the
characterisation wouldn’t work. Instead,
he embodied the determined young steel
worker who had no idea he’d become a
leader, but wanted to satisfy his thirst for
knowledge nonetheless.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev (right) awards Nurlan Alimzhanov for his contributions to Kazakhstan’s cinema industry, December 2013

4. InFocus: Foreign Policy Priorities
The parties reached an agreement on organisation of a visit of
Bhoocha-oom to Astana on Aug. 19 to sign an agreement of
Thailand’s participation in EXPO 2017.
Zhoshybayev and Akhtar discussed the terms of ESCAP’s
participation in the exhibition and ways of cooperation in the field
of green economy. Akhtar proposed creating a special side event of
ESCAP during EXPO 2017 where it could present an Asia-Pacific
Energyportal,sustainableenergyprogrammeandgreendevelopment
online trainings.
The leadership of Thai energy and tourism companies and business
circles expressed high interest to present their capabilities during
EXPO 2017 in Astana.
Welcoming Investment
Akim (Governor) of the Zhambyl region Karim Kokrekbayev
met with a group of investors from Iran in the framework of the
memorandum on cooperation between the Zhambyl regional
administration of and TR-KZ holding company Aug.9.
The delegation from Iran included specialists in different spheres
of the agriculture sector. The participants of the meeting discussed
investing in agricultural projects and cooperation in this sector.
Iranian investors are ready to consider investment projects in priority
spheres of the agriculture sector.
“The Zhambyl region is good for sowing and cattle breeding. We
plant to implement here several benefits for both countries projects.
We can help you in the agriculture sector,” the head of the Iranian
delegation said.
TheKazakhdelegationnotedthattheZhambylregionisreadytooffer
Iranian investors promising investment projects requiring financing in
the agro-industrial complex. (inform.kz)
Calling
Astana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 469/ 4
Strengthening UN & Int’l Security
PresidentNursultanNazarbayevsentatelegramofcondolences
to President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain in connection with
the terrorist attack in Quetta that took place on Aug. 8.
Kazakhstan perceived the tragic news with a deep sorrow for many
innocent victims who died during the terrorist attack.
“Kazakhstan strongly condemns international extremism and
terrorism, which threatens global security. Our country fully supports
the efforts of the international community to combat the spread of
this threat,” the letter said.
On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and on his own behalf,
Nazarbayev expressed his deepest condolences to the families,
relatives and friends of the victims, as well as the friendly Pakistan
nation. He wished a speedy recovery to the injured. (akorda.kz)
Hosting Astana Expo 2017
Turkey will present its best developments in the field of
alternative energy sources at EXPO 2017 in Astana. Chairman of
the Board Akhmetzhan Yessimov and Commissioner of the Turkish
section of the exhibition and Deputy Minister of Economy of Turkey
Tarik Sonmez signed a relevant agreement in Ankara Aug. 5. During
the meeting, Yessimov stressed that is among the most important
countries participating in EXPO 2017. “The pavilion of Turkey will be
one of the biggest pavilions of EXPO 2017. I am sure that Turkey will
demonstrate its best innovations in the sphere of renewable energy
sources at the exhibition,” Yessimov said. Antalya is holding EXPO
2016 in which Kazakhstan is taking an active part. Yessimov
EXPO 2017 Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev paid a visit to
the Kingdom of Thailand Aug. 8-9, where he met with Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Commissioner of Thailand
National Section in EXPO 2017 Areepong Bhoocha-oom, UN
Under-Secretary General – United Nations ESCAP (the Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) Executive Secretary
Shamshad Akhtar, as well as the country’s business circles.
Zhoshybayev and Bhoocha-oom discussed bilateral economic
and energy cooperation between the two countries, as well as
participation of Thailand in EXPO 2017. Thailand aims to increase the
share of renewable and alternative energy sources up to 25 percent
by 2021. The country has rich experience in the development and
use of biomass and wants to keep its leading role in the Asia-Pacific
Region in terms of generating energy from biomass.
Back to Contents

5. Also InThe News...
• Kazakhstan takes part in Olympics Opening Ceremony
On Aug. 5, a delegation of athletes and officials from Kazakhstan
took part in the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games
at the legendary Maracana stadium, once the world’s largest, in Rio
de Janeiro. Taekwondo fighter Ruslan Zhaparov carried the nation’s
flag. A day before, Kazakhstan’s flag was raised in the Olympic
Village in a colourful ceremony, along with the flags of Spain,
Turkey, the Seychelles Islands and Chad. “All the 104 athletes who
won licenses for the games are already heroes to us. They have
earned the love of their country. I will not make predictions on how
many medals we may win but we will be looking forward [to them].
Have you noticed that among the five countries whose flags were
raised today, Kazakhstan’s was the first? I hope this is a good sign for
the future,” said Vice Minister for Culture and Sport of Kazakhstan
Saken Musaibekov. According to Chairman of the Sport and
Physical Education Committee of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture
and Sport Elsiyar Kanagatov, athletes are provided with all the
necessary conditions for living and training in the Olympic Village.
“The Olympic Village has already begun its work, and our staff is
already doing organising work. After arriving here our athletes
almost immediately can continue their trainings and preparations
for competitions,” he said. The Summer Olympic Games of 2016
are being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug. 5 to 21. Events involving
the nation’s athletes are broadcast live on the public TV channels
Kazakhstan, Khabar and Kazsport. (astanatimes.com)
• Astana creates more accommodation options for expo visitors
EXPO 2017 organisers announced recently that 24 hotels and four
hostels would be constructed to accommodate visitors to next
year’sthree-monthevent.“Wehaveworkedhardtoensurethatthey
will have places to stay. Now, there are about 30,000 hotel rooms; in
addition 5,000 more rooms will be introduced by 2017,” said head of
Astana’s Business and Industry Department Malika Bekturova. “We
are also considering the option of placing guests near the exhibition
site… We are planning to make a summer town [camp] with about
10,000 places,” said head of the Tourist Information Department of
the Astana Convention Bureau Rasul Ilimbayev. Some big players
in the accommodations industry have been entering the capital
prior to the expo. In 2013, the foundation of the Talan Towers was
laid. Since then, the Verny Capital group has built two towers. Most
of the construction has been completed. One of the towers will
hold The Ritz-Carlton Hotel; a business centre will be located in
the other. The whole complex is the first green construction in
Kazakhstan that uses energy-saving technologies and meets LEED
international standards. American company SOM (Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill LLP) created the project. The lower three floors
are to be a shopping gallery. (astanatimes.com)
• China launches organised tours of Kazakhstan
China has begun tourist tours to Kazakhstan, with the first tour
beginning Aug. 6. The tour, organised by the China National Travel
Service Group, began by flying 55 Chinese tourists to Astana. A
memorandum of cooperation in tourism signed by the leaders of
the two countries in December has made such tours possible. This
is the first group out of 300 visitors planning to travel to Kazakhstan.
According to Xinjiang Deputy Governor Shi Dagang, these tours
mark the beginning of an important new stage in the development
of tourism between China and Kazakhstan and the construction of
the Silk Road Economic Belt. (liter.kz)
• PM visits Atyrau fishing industryy
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov visited the Caspian
Royal Fish commercial sturgeon farm and met with leading
representatives of the fishing industry in Atyrau. Among the main
issues raised were the threat of extinction of valuable fish species
due to the suspension of cleaning works at the Zhaiyk and Kigash
rivers, anti-poaching efforts and the fishery inspection staff’s lack
of materials and technical equipment.During the meeting, Vice
Minister of Agriculture Erlan Nysanbaev, Vice Minister of Finance
Ruslan Dalenov, Akim (governor) of the region Nurlan Nogayev
and Director of the Zhaiyk-Atyrau sturgeon breeding plant
Gilman Sarsemaliyev made reports. Under the Agribusiness 2020
programme, it is planned to increase the annual rate of marketable
fish production up to 35,000 tons by 2020. At present, the total
number of sturgeons farmed in the company is around 25,000. By
the end of 2016, it is planned to sell up to 5 tons of commercial fish
and to get at least 200 kilogrammes of sturgeon caviar. Maximum
capacity is planned to be reached in 2017. (pm.kz)
• Sportswriter from Kazakhstan gets AIPS award in Rio
Well-known sports journalist, writer, trainer and former competitive
athlete from Kazakhstan Nesip Zhunusbayev received a special
AIPS award in Rio de Janeiro. The International Sports Press
Association (AIPS) gave the awards to sports journalists from
different countries who had covered 10 or more Olympic Games as
of the Games in Rio. “This is a great honour for sports journalists.
… It means for us the same as winning the gold for athletes,”
Zhunusbayev said. (inform.kz)
• Photo exhibition about Kazakhstan opens in Moscow
Kazakhstan’s embassy in Russia and National Geographic Russia
Magazine have organised a street photo exhibition on Kazakhstan.
The “Land of the Great Steppe” exhibition, opened as of July 21, is in
the centre of the Russian capital, on Nickolskaya Street next to the
Square of Revolution metro station, and showcases more than 60
photosofthenaturallandscapesofKazakhstan,aswellassignificant
comingevents,suchastheWinterUniversiadeinAlmatyandEXPO
2017 in Astana. Chief photographer of National Geographic Russia
Andrey Kamenev who spent a month travelling the country created
the exhibited photos. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Editor-
in-Chief of National Geographic Russia Andrey Palamarchuk noted
that the month-long exhibition is also dedicated to the recently
presented first issue of National Geographic Kazakhstan, translated
into the Kazakh language. He also emphasised that the exhibition
is mostly focused on the coming EXPO 2017. The photo exhibition
will be open until August 24. (astanatimes.com)
• Astana hosts teaching job fair
Astana hosted a job fair for teachers Aug. 11 in Zhastar (Youth)
Palace, which was attended by representatives of preschools,
kindergartens, schools and colleges. In total, according to Astana’s
Employment Centre, it is planned to arrange 12 job fairs before the
end of the year. In July, more than 40 employers attended a similar
job fair for college graduates and young people. (kazpravda.kz)
ASTANA CALLING A WEEKLYONLINE PUBLICATION /
WWW.MFA.GOV.KZ
Please send comments and questions to pressa@mfa.kz
Calling
Astana ASTANA CALLING / ISSUE 469/ 4 Back to Contents