Mohammed bin Rashid receives Kazakh President

(WAM) -- Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received on Sunday, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and his accompanying delegation.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai attended the meeting. While welcoming the President of Kazakhstan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stressed the strong relations and friendship between the UAE and Kazakhstan at all levels.

Nazarbayev expressed his satisfaction at meeting Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. He also discussed with Sheikh Mohammed ways to enhance cooperation between the two friendly peoples and countries, stressing the historic ties with the UAE since his country's independence from the erstwhile Soviet Union.

President of Kazakhstan also highlighted the great achievements accomplished by the people of the UAE at all levels. He also expressed admiration at continuous changes in Dubai which amazed the world with its astonishing development.

"When we decided to modernise Astana, the capital city, and building an ideal infrastructure, we benefited from Dubai's achievements and experience, especially the establishment of Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC)," Nazarbayev said.

Sheikh Mohammed hailed the testimony and good impressions of the President of Kazakhstan towards the UAE in general and Dubai in particular. He also emphasised that the UAE's successful experience in various fields "is in service of all sisterly and friendly countries."

UAE Vice President added, "We are please, in a way or another, to contribute to developing the AIFC and other premises in Kazakhstan. We are also ready to welcome any request from the friendly country of Kazakhstan."

Sheikh Mohammed also accepted the invitation of President of Kazakhstan to visit Astana, which will take place in an appropriate time.

Among others present were H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future; Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and head of honorary mission accompanying President of Kazakhstan; Mohammed Ibrahim AI Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.

Nurlan Onzhanov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Askar Mamin, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan; Kairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UAE; Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and a number of officials were also present.

WAM/Hazem/Majok