The event was attended by the Parliament deputies, the Government members, representatives of state bodies, the diplomatic corps, intellectuals, business and cultural circles.
Speaking to the audience, the Head of State congratulated everyone on the Capital’s Day and noted the high dynamics of development of the country's main city for the last 19 years.
- Astana is beautiful. Last night I drove around the city and saw a lot of people walking in the streets, despite the late time of the day. That speaks volume. People are calm and feel safe. Even the ancients said that "the city is not walls, but people”, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that today's energetic rhythm of Astana sets the pace for the renewal of the entire country.
- We consistently carry out large-scale modernization in the economy, politics and culture. The result of such activity is aimed at our state’s growth. Astana will always be at the beginning of this growth. Here we solve various issues, including the establishment of peace in various parts of the world. Our policy of peace, good-neighborliness, the policy of attracting investments is aimed at creating favorable living conditions for every citizen of Kazakhstan, the Head of the State said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has also told about the importance of holding the international exhibition EXPO-2017 and its role in the further development of the city and the country as a whole.
- Thanks to EXPO-2017 Kazakhstan is now in the focus of international attention. The city guests admire the city. We are the only state that built a new metropolis at the turn of the century. Astana today is a trillion tenge of budget revenues a year. At the same time, 65 percent of all revenues come from small and medium-sized businesses. We have witnessed the formation of our capital, the Head of the State said.
At the end of the speech, Nursultan Nazarbayev once again congratulated the people of Kazakhstan on the Capital's Day, wishing them happiness, prosperity and new achievements, and thanked all the participants in the construction of Astana.
