Speaker of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has received Chairman of the National Political Advisory Council of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Askhat Kerimbay; the Senate's press service told Kazinform.

K. Tokayev emphasized the importance of Mr. Kerimbay's visit for Kazakh-Chinese relations characterized by high level of political trust and economic cooperation.

The sides discussed the issues regarding the International Border Cooperation Center "Kh...

Draft National Budget for 2011-2013 as well as the bills on guaranteed transfers from the National Fund and on general transfers will be discussed again by the Government. Prime Minister Karim Massimov informed of it at the plenary session of the Majilis after discussing the draft three-year budget.

The PM asked the deputies to submit all propositions and promised that all of them would be thoroughly considered.

Source: KAZINFORM

Over nine months of 2010 the volume of science financing made up KZT 9.973 bln.

The press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Education and Science reports.

KZT 6.46 bln was disbursed to basic scientific research. Amount of capital transfers made up KZT 25 mln.

Bills "On Science" and "On amendments to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on science" which were elaborated for improvement of the mechanisms of the state support of research activ...

Government plans to allocate over 250 bln for development of housing and utilities sector in the nearest five years.  First Vice Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev has said it at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Housing and Utilities: Problems, Solutions and Prospects in Astana today.

As the Vice PM noted the Government had approved a branch program on new principles of management of the sector and implementation of resource saving technologies in it.

"...

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping improve the legal and institutional framework for microfinance in Europe and Central Asia to increase access to finance for microentrepreneurs and general population.

To support this effort, IFC in cooperation with Mongolia Financial Regulatory Commission and Microfinance Development Fund organized a study tour in Mongolia on microfinance-related policy for 14 policymakers from Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republi...

Many experts marked that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) session in Dushanbe in May was not an unimportant event: here, for the first time in OIC history, a Central Asian state picked up the presidency.This fact obviously speaks in favor of Central Asia and its special role in regional and global security.

To date the OIC has reconsidered the format of its activity, taking into account the fact of the presidency's transfer to one of the ...

Tonight a fire occurred in one of the minimarkets of Astana, a 37-year-old female died; the press service of the Ministry of Emergencies reports.

The fire occured in a warehouse attached to a six-storey house.

According to rescuers, the fire covered an area of four square meters. Two people were poisoned by carbon monoxide, one of them - a 37-year-old female - died on the spot, the second one - a 13-year-old girl - was hospitalized.

Source: ...

A delegation of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) accomplished its work on surveying the construction process of facilities of the VII Asian Winter Games in Astana.

On Tuesday in Astana the OCA representatives together with the Kazakh executives visited construction site of sports facilities of the Asian Games and took positive view on Kazakhstan and its preparedness to the Games, complimenting the timeliness of preparation to the sport event. 

The delegation of the Olympi

...

Gold and currency reserves of the National Bank and the National Fund as of October 1, 2010 made USD 57 bln. Chairman of the National Bank Grigory Marchenko said it at the enlarged sitting of the Faction of Nur Otan Party in the Majilis today. As earlier reported the meeting participants focused on the draft national budget for 2011-2013.

"Since the year beginning we have purchased 2.7 bln U.S. dollars which were used for increasing our gold and currency reserves", the chief ban...

"The Government controls over the situation at the food market", Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov has said today at the enlarged session of "Nur Otan" Party.

"Despite adverse weather conditions we harvested enough grain to satisfy our domestic and export demands this year. The state emergency grain stock is 500 thousand tons", K.Massimov said.

The Prime Minister also noted that the total gross agricultural output in nine months of 2010 has m...

Over 150 industrial projects will be implemented in Kazakhstan till the end of the year. Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has made it public at the enlarged meeting of the Nur Otan Party faction at the Majilis (Lower House of the Kazakhstan Parliament).

"Our new productions represent the beginning of serious structural changes in our economy and its further growth", K. Massimov noted.

The Premier reminded that 72 projects have already been launched in the first half-y...

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is expected to be on his working visit to France on October 27-28. The President will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon within the framework of the visit. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov has said it today at the briefing.

'It is planned to hold the first meeting of the Kazakh-French presidential commission 'Nazarbayev-Sarkozy' Days of Kazakhstan's economy in France and joint business forum', I. Omaro...

The Kazakh Parliament's Upper House has adopted the Law "On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and Government of Slovenia on international passenger and cargo road transportation" at its plenary sitting today.

The agreement was signed on November 11, 2009 in Astana. The agreement provides for the release of vehicles carrying cargo, passengers and baggage from the payment of all fees and charges relating to the ownership, registration and managemen...

The Senate of the Kazakh Parliament adopted the Law "On ratification of the Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol adopted in Nairobi on September 26, 1981".

"The ratification of the Treaty will have a positive impact on development of the Olympic movement in our country, promote the image of Kazakhstan at the world arena", Executive Secretary of the Kazakh Ministry of Justice Marat Beketayev said presenting the draft Law.

The Treaty is aimed at ...

Kazakh Ambassador Beibut Atamkulov held a meeting with Malaysia Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Kohilan Pillay in Putrajaya; Kazinform refers to the Kazakh MFA's press service.

The diplomats discussed the dynamics of Kazakh-Malaysian relations development. They noted similarity of approaches on a wide array of international issues, interaction within the framework of international and regional organizations.

It was noted that Malaysia was the main partner of Kazakhstan i...

The main achievements of Kazakhstan - peace and concord - are significant contribution to strengthening regional and global security; President Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced it at the XVI session of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan.

"We watch the crisis of confidence and tolerance in the modern world. Hence chairing the OSCE this year Kazakhstan actively promotes ideas of interethnic and interfaith tolerance", the President emphasized.

The Head of the State noted ...

Delivering a speech at the XVI session of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has wished wisdom and patience in making their country to the people of Kyrgyzstan.

"The world economic crisis exacerbated the global challenges of our time. Today about 1 bln people on earth suffer from hunger, every year up to 5 mln children die from hunger, over 200 mln people are unemployed. As consequence, every year about 30 new armed conflicts flash. Unfortunately, but ...

Participants of the World Forum of Spiritual Culture have adopted declaration "Towards New World and Accord through Culture" today.

"Global world disasters and shocks affect people on all continents. We believe that spiritual and moral improvement of the world is our common task for the present and future. We welcome and approve international, public, personal initiatives regarding the peace and people, their spirituality, promoting harmony in the world, solidarity of cultu...

The Kazakh Statistics Agency marks its professional holiday today. The World Statistics Day is celebrated this day.

Earlier Head of the Kazakh Agency Alikhan Smailov said that the Agency decided to hold doors open day on Wednesday, October 20.

He informed that within the event representatives of the Agency would present information technologies used by the state statistics workers and distribute handout materials.

Source: KAZINFORM...

In view of the upcoming OSCE Summit  'Kazinform' National Information Agency  has prepared a review of the press with the most interesting materials published in Kazakhstan and abroad on presidency of Kazakhstan in the OSCE and Astana Summit.

The newspaper 'Liter' published an article 'The upcoming OSCE Summit in Astana is reason to be proud of motherland' on October 12. Figuratively speaking,the OSCE Summit in Astana is an 'exam' on patriotism for Kazakhstan, Majilisman Ramazan...

A scientific conference entitled "National Unity Doctrine: from theory to practice" has been held in Almaty today. The goal of the conference was to discuss the relevant issues and prospects of achievement of national unity of the Kazakhstan society.

The conference was attended by the representatives of scientific organizations, expert communities, state bodies, political parties and NGOs. The participants focused on various approaches to ensuring national unity in the country, ...

The People's Assembly of Kazakhstan is a unique institute which potential  is inexhaustible in all respects. Member of the Assembly, Chairman of Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Almaty, Vice Chairman of Ukrainians of Kazakhstan Association Valentin Lymarenko said it in an interview

to Kazinform on the threshold of the Assembly's regular session. He reminded that the 16th session of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan is scheduled for October 20 in the capital city of Kazakhstan - Astana....

The fifth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN (Palermo) Convention against Transnational Organized Crime has started work in Vienna; Kazinform refers to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service.

Kazakhstan's delegation is headed by Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the International Organizations in Vienna. Mr. Kazykhanov, who was elected Vice President of the Conference, confirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to its obligations under the Conventio...

At today's sitting of the Government Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has charged from next year to build social facilities in accordance with new construction norms and regulations.

K. Massimov said that on Wednesday this issue would be discussed at a special session. The Prime Minister noted that he would head a working group and first Vice Premier U. Shukeyev would coordinate this issue. "This is the instruction of the President. The deadline is one month", he added.

So...

Eight projects additionally are planned to be put into operation within the industrialization Map by the end of the year. Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies Berik Kamaliyev has made it public today at the telephone conference of the Kazakh Government.

"We have taken into account all recommendations on the projects for the second half of the year and plan to launch 80 projects. Totally 152 projects to the amount of KZT 805 bln will be put into operation this year", ...

"Promotion of spiritual principles inherent in multinational Kazakh culture is an important dimension of Kazakhstan's policy", Chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said reading the message of the Head of the State to participants of the World Forum of Spiritual Culture that was opened in Astana on Monday.

"The Day of Spiritual Harmony is celebrated in Kazakhstan annually. Our capital city Astana became the place of holding of the Congress of...

"Due to the policy of peace and accord, pursued by Leader of the country N.Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan managed to consolidate the positive experience of intercultural coexistence", Senate Speaker Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said today at the World Forum of spiritual culture in Astana.

The Speaker has also said that a big contribution is made by the Kazakhstan People's Assembly that is a fundamental institution of interethnic relations development in the country.

Source: ...

Kazakhstan receives big competitive advantage in the Single Economic Space. Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has made it public today at the Governmental telephone conference.

K.Massimov noted that the interests of Kazakhstan were accommodated during the discussion of formation of the Single Economic Space by the Heads of Government of the CU member states. "National entities receive big competitive advantages from the agreements achieved preliminary", K.Massimov said.
...

Kazakhstan's Human Rights Commissioner Askar Shakirov has met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Susan M. Elliot in Astana today; the Ombudsman's press service told Kazinform.

A. Shakirov informed the guest of the priority directions of his work on protection of human rights, including the issues of improvement of legislation in this field.

He also told about the conference on interaction between state bodies and civil society, which was...

A draft agenda of the plenary session of the Majilis has been formed at a session of the Bureau of the Majilis chaired by Ural Mukhamedzhanov, the press service of the House reports. 

The deputies are to define the terms of preparation of conclusions on a range of new draft laws by the relevant committees. These are the draft Law "On amendments to some legislative acts on the issues of organization of the Islamic financing" and "On ratification of the Shanghai Convent...