Kazakhstan is proud that it is the country where Chinese President Xi Jinping first put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, and fully supports the efforts to bring this important Chinese vision into reality, a senior Kazakh diplomat told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
"We are proud that this initiative was first announced in Kazakhstan during a visit of President Xi Jinping," Ruslan Bultrikov, the deputy permanent representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, said.
In a speech delivered at the Nazarbayev University on Sept. 7, 2013, President Xi proposed that China and Central Asia join hands to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost regional cooperation.
The Chinese president's speech "is very symbolic because this concept was first announced during his meeting with students, who represent the young generation and for whom great project will be carried out," Bultrikov said.
KAZAKHSTAN'S FULL SUPPORT
"Kazakhstan has been very supportive of this proposal since its announcement," he said, adding that "now (it) comes its implementation stage."
"Being the largest land-locked country, Kazakhstan is very interested in developing its infrastructure and transportation, as well as developing trade and economic relations with its neighbors and beyond," he said. "From this point of view, this immense and significant plan proposed and implemented by China, is very important for us, and is in line with our priorities and national strategies."
For example, Bultrikov said, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced in November 2014 his new economic plan, known as "Nurly Zhol" (meaning "bright path" in the Kazakh language), which will drive investment into critical infrastructure and priority sectors totaling around 9 billion US dollars.
"The main objective of this national program is to build infrastructure, namely, of new roads and railroads -- to connect remote places within the country, as well as, to provide transit for foreign goods and travel from the East to the West, and from the West to the East," he said.
"So we consider this major plan as not only the restoration of the great Silk Road, which existed on our territory for a long time, but also as an absolutely new approach because this Belt and Road Initiative is not only about trade and transportation. It is (also) about developing calculation in different spheres, including technological transfer, cultural exchanges and relevant sectors," he said.
"The fact that China is implementing this project with partners is very valuable for us because China is our largest trade and economic partner and one of the largest investors in Kazakhstan, he said. "Together, we can further develop transportation and infrastructure projects."
PROGRESS ACHIEVED
The deputy permanent representative said that currently, Kazakhstan, along with international donors and partners, has completed construction of the West China-West Kazakhstan Road, which will significantly reduce costs and time of transportation of goods.
