Independent Kazakhstan: key achievements over 30 years

Dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the independence of Kazakhstan, on 7 December 2021, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Independent Kazakhstan: key achievements over 30 years”. The keynote speakers were Mr. Zhanibek Abdrashov, ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Mr. János Balla, foreign policy senior adviser to the Prime Minister of Hungary; Mr. Sándor Kovács member of the National Assembly of Hungary, deputy head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group “Hungary-Kazakhstan”; Ambassador János Hóvári turkologist, Head of the Organization of Turkic States Office and professor László Vasa, senior research fellow of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The event was moderated by Mr. Márton Ugrósdy, Director of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In his opening speech, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Mr. Zhanibek Abdrashov informed the participants of the roundtable discussion about the key achievements that were accomplished under the leadership of the first president of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, about the ongoing political reforms of the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as about the achieved level of partnership between Kazakhstan and Hungary.

Foreign policy senior adviser, Mr. János Balla pointed at the fact that although 30 years is not a long time in the life of a country, in the case of Kazakhstan these years are historically significant since during the last three decades thanks to the leaders of Kazakhstan who used the available resources wisely, a strong, stable state was built that connects the west and the east. Mr. Balla also highlighted the flourishing Kazakh-Hungarian relations that are getting even stronger thanks to the common economical, trade, and educational cooperation.

Mr. Sándor Kovács, a member of the National Assembly of Hungary could experience the process of Kazakhstan becoming an independent nation firsthand since he spent years in the Republic. In his speech he mentioned how Kazakhstan became the strong state that we know today, and how the Kazakh identity got strengthened. According to him to form a strong nation there are two crucial steps to take. The first is to teach the native language and the second is to get to know the origin of the ancestors. By following these steps Kazakhstan became a state that lies on solid grounds, proud of its traditions yet still a modern country of the XXI. century. A real success story for every country thus for Hungary as well.

The relationship of Hungary and Kazakhstan goes back high in the past said historian, turkologist Ambassador Mr. János Hóvári who emphasized that Hungary was one of the first nations that recognized the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1992 and that the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev came to Hungary in December 1994.

The last speaker before the roundtable discussion was Professor László Vasa senior research fellow of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade who highlighted the importance of the brave and firm decisions of the Kazakh leaders. Decisions that were not limited by personal or religious differences. Because of this at first, a state was created then state institutions were established that operate this state, and finally, a historical homeland for Kazakhs was born. A homeland that thanks to its successful and strong economy, modern agriculture, successful foreign policy, and modernization plan became one of the most developed countries of the world.