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Kazakhstan Foreign relations

Foreign Policy Overview

Kazakhstan’s foreign policy is based on the understanding that it is a large country with roots in both Europe and Asia; its interests are many. Kazakhstan’s location has helped to define its foreign-policy priorities and diplomatic activity. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev believes that by enacting strong political and economic reforms, the country will be in a better position to build its relationships with other nations. Kazakhstan is an impartial nation, one that has worked hard to reform its military, political and economic policies as it advances toward a full democracy. Its foreign policy underscores its commitment to create strong, long-lasting alliances and partnerships. Kazakhstan's good relations with Russia, China, the United States and other Western nations altogether underscore the “vibrancy and dynamism” of this multi-vector foreign policy approach. One of Kazakhstan’s most important decisions since independence was to gain the status of a non-nuclear state and to pursue the policy of non-proliferation. Kazakhstan set an example, demonstrating its desire for peace, internal stability and sustainable economic and political development.

Kazakhstan has good relationships with the United States, Russia and China as well as in Central Asia and in many other European and Asian countries. With Russia, Kazakhstan has long-standing historical ties and a vast shared border. Kazakhstan also shares a border with China. China’s pursuit of energy security and new markets has strengthened its ties to Kazakhstan and its economy. That will only continue.

The steady development of the country is also based on it being an active, yet impartial, actor in regional events. As a result, Kazakhstan has gained entry to several regional organizations of large importance, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Central Asian Economic Association, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Additionally, it should be noted that joining the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member is one of Kazakhstan’s highest international priorities.The country’s recent track record of leadership speaks for itself: in 2010, it became the first Central Asian, post-Soviet and predominantly Muslim country to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest security oriented intergovernmental organization, and chaired the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation the following year. By leading nuclear arms reduction efforts and promoting regional cooperation, Kazakhstan is poised to play an even larger role in regional and international communities.

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