PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN TO VISIT CANADA

June 20, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, will visit Canada from June 23-27, 2003. The President will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Kassymzhomart Tokaev, Minister of Industry and Trade Adilbek Dzhaksybekov and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Vladimir Shkolnik.

"Canada is committed to increasing our political and economic engagement with Kazakhstan," said the Prime Minister. "At the same time, we encourage Kazakhstan to continue its democratic reforms, which are of considerable importance to the Kazakh people and create the stability and civil freedom that helps to attract investment."

In Ottawa, the Prime Minister and the President are expected to discuss business opportunities in Kazakhstan, furthering bilateral economic partnerships and greater economic integration and security cooperation within Central Asia. President Nazarbayev will also meet with Governor General Adrienne Clarkson.

The President will also travel to Calgary to address a conference organized by the Canadian Eurasia Energy and Industry Alliance and receive an Honourary Degree from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. While in Alberta, he will meet with senior provincial and municipal government representatives.

This is the first visit to Canada by a head of state from Kazakhstan since the country's independence 12 years ago.

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