In his welcoming speech the Head of the State noted that as the President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier makes one of his first visits to Kazakhstan and thanked him for the decision to personally visit EXPO-2017 exhibition.
- I am pleased to personally congratulate you on your election to the post of President of the country. You are a respected, world-famous politician, and I think that the German people have found a very authoritative President represented by you. We have known you for a long time; cooperation and meetings with you are always pleasant. When you held the post of Foreign Affairs Minister, we discussed a wide range of various issues, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The President of Kazakhstan has stressed that Germany is the country with the largest economy in the world, and our countries are good partners.
- Now there are new programs of our cooperation, and the Kazakh side is interested in developing these relations in all directions. Within the framework of your visit, the Business Council is being held, about 20 agreements are going to be inked between the business structures of our countries, the Head of the State noted.
In turn, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, on behalf of the entire German delegation, thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for the invitation to visit Kazakhstan.
- Thank you for the hospitality and warm words spoken both to Germany and to me personally. After being elected as the President, I am for the first time in Kazakhstan, and this visit is special, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between our countries, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
The German President drew attention to the positive dynamics of cooperation between the two countries.
- During this quarter of a century, the relations in the economy, culture and politics have become stronger and closer. One of the indicators of these business relations’ growth is the active participation of German organizations and companies in "Astana EXPO-2017" exhibition, and I am very glad that Germany's Day at this exhibition coincides with my visit, Frank-Walter Steinmeier concluded.
The President of Germany also noted the relevance of the theme of the international exhibition, devoted to the energy problems of the future.
