Uzbekistan, Tashkent, June 14 / Trend D.Azizov /
The opening ceremony of the new building of the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the monument to Kazakh poet and educator Abai took place during an official visit to Uzbekistan of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The ceremony was attended by the presidents Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbayev.
"Today we are opening a monument to the outstanding son of the Kazakh people, the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbayev. We are opening this monument on the street named after Abai in a single complex with a beautiful newly constructed building of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Tashkent, which is a harmonious blend of oriental flavor and high standards of modern construction," President Karimov said, speaking at the ceremony.
He stressed that national poet, educator and humanist Abai, who devoted his entire life chanting high aspirations and expectations of the people, is well known and highly appreciated in Uzbekistan.
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized that ties of relationship between Kazakhs and Uzbeks have a long history, having originated from time immemorial.
"Our relations have reached a whole new level of neighborliness. This is confirmed by such an important event as the opening of the monument to the great Kazakh poet and humanist Abai Kunanbayev," the head of Kazakhstan said.
The opening ceremony of the new building of the embassy and a monument to Abai completed the program a two-day official visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan.
During the visit, the leaders discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on important regional and international issues.
Following the meeting, the sides signed the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, a program of cultural cooperation for 2013-2015, an agreement on cooperation between the Ministries of the Interior and the protocol between the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan on exchange of preliminary information about goods and vehicles passing through the border.