Mohamed Salamah reports
Holding the annual Iftar of Ramadan, the new Kazakh Ambassador Askar Genis announced that Egyptian-Kazakh relations are deeply rooted in history and culture, and that we have great appreciation and respect for Egypt for its rich history and its great role in the region, where the first Kazakh embassy was established in Egypt, and it was responsible for all African countries. I studied at Al-Azhar University and worked as a diplomat at the embassy twenty years ago. I consider Egypt my second country.
Ambassador Askar added in his meeting with journalists, media professionals and those interested in Kazakh affairs at the Ramadan Iftar table: I am proud of the Egyptian media and press that pay attention to Kazakhstan, and we have historical relations, the most important of which is the restoration and opening of the mosque of Sultan Al-Zahir Baybars, Sultan of Kazakhstan and the Mamluk Sultans who ruled Egypt.
Ambassador Askar noted that his mission is to strengthen relations between the two countries in all fields, especially cultural, educational and trade exchange. Kazakhstan is characterized by abundant wheat production and is ready to supply it to Egypt with facilities.
It is noteworthy that Ambassador Askar met with many Egyptian officials to exchange views, get to know them, and complete what previous ambassadors have built to strengthen relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Askar announced that Kazakhstan will witness important events this year, as the Astana Forum will be held next May, and the World and Traditional Religions Conference will be held in its new version next September. Invitations have been extended to Sheikh of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Minister of Endowments Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr. Nazir Ayyad, and Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
MP and journalist Osama Sharshar, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Nahar newspaper and website, spoke, calling for intensifying work on rapprochement between the two peoples through cultural exchange, holding cultural weeks, exhibitions, films, and official and popular exchange, and showing more interest in introducing the Egyptian people to the ancient culture and heritage of Kazakhstan.
The writer of these lines explained that Kazakhstan is open for investment and trade and that it has many resources other than oil, gas and wheat. Kazakhstan, in cooperation with China, has completed the construction of a giant railway project that starts from China, passes through Kazakhstan, then Turkmenistan, and ends in Iran, then to the Gulf countries, where the time by land was shortened from one month to one week, in addition to reducing the cost. Therefore, it is no longer appropriate to say that there is difficulty in trade exchange because Kazakhstan is a landlocked country that does not have access to seas or ports, as this statement no longer has a place in grammar after Kazakhstan solved this problem by establishing a railway line that passes through four countries. This contributes to enhancing trade exchange with the Gulf countries, Egypt and African countries.
