Kazakhstan to invite PM Modi to visit next year, says envoy-designate

Kazakhstan's Ambassador-designate to India Bulat Sarsenbayev has said his country's government plans to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kazakhstan sometime next year.

In an exclusive interview given to ANI on the sidelines of an event to mark the 23rd anniversary of "The Day of the First President of Kazakhstan", Ambassador-designate Sarsenbayev, who is to formally present his credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee on December 9, said, "Our goal is to increase diplomatic relations, strategic partnership next year. We are going to prepare the next step in our relations. Our president is going to invite Prime Minister Modi to visit Kazakhstan."

"Maybe, during that visit, we will sign some agreements, for investments for some trade between India and Kazakhstan," he added.

Kazakhstan regards India as a country endowed with a glorious past, having a vibrant presence and blessed with a bright future. Leaderships of both countries have had regular exchanges, but there is still a feeling on both sides that the full potential of this partnership is yet to be realized.

Since 2008, leaders of both nations have raised the bar on interactions at the political level. India's Vice President, M H Ansari, visited Kazakhstan in April, 2008. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was the chief guest at India's 60th Republic Day Celebrations in January 2009.

Foreign Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Kazakhstan in April 2011, providing a much needed fillip and impetus to bilateral engagement.

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