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Baiterek monument in Astana, Kazakhstan / Courtesy of Kazakhstan Ministry of Overseas Affairs
By Kim Hyun-bin
ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Kazakhstan, positioned within the coronary heart of Central Asia, is an enormous and various nation famend for its wealthy historical past, cultural selection and ample pure sources.
As the biggest nation in Central Asia, Kazakhstan shares borders with China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Its landmass is comparable in measurement to Western Europe and it’s the world’s largest landlocked nation. With a land border spanning 7,591 kilometers, Kazakhstan’s boundary with Russia ranks because the world’s second-longest, solely surpassed by the U.S.-Canada border.
The nation is house to roughly 19.8 million individuals, with 40 % of the inhabitants underneath 25. Kazakhs represent nearly all of the inhabitants, round 70 %, with the remaining 30 % representing a various mixture of ethnic teams, together with Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Uighurs, Tatars, Germans, Koreans and others.
Nationwide Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan / Korea Instances photograph by Kim Hyun-bin
About 70 % of the inhabitants practices Sunni Islam, whereas an extra 26 % are Christians. There are roughly 130 completely different ethnic teams and practically 4,000 non secular organizations.
Kazakhstan boasts the biggest economic system in Central Asia, primarily pushed by its ample pure sources, comparable to minerals, hydrocarbons and rare-earth metals. The nation has attracted important overseas funding in these industries, leading to a talented workforce.
The economic system is diversifying into varied sectors, together with agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics and finance. Authorities initiatives intention to diversify the economic system additional, specializing in transport, prescription drugs, telecommunications, petrochemicals and meals processing sectors.
Ongoing privatization of main state enterprises will cut back the state’s share within the economic system to 18 %. The federal government additionally seeks to spice up small and medium-sized companies’ position, aiming to extend their GDP share to 35 % by 2025.
Kazakhstan operates as a presidential republic, with the president serving as the top of state and nominating a first-rate minister as the top of presidency. Legislative energy is vested within the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the 98-seat Mazhilis and the 50-seat Senate.
As of November 2022, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is the president of Kazakhstan, having been reelected, and Alikhan Smailov retains his place as prime minister following the parliamentary elections in March.
Astana Opera home in Astana, Kazakhstan / Korea Instances photograph by Kim Hyun-bin
Kazakhstan’s overseas coverage is marked by a balanced and multi-vector method, sustaining sturdy relations with main international powers, together with Russia, China, the U.S. and the European Union. The nation is a member of assorted worldwide organizations, such because the United Nations (U.N.), the Group for Safety and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Unbiased States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Group (SCO).
Kazakhstan additionally performs an important position within the Eurasian Financial Union (EAEU), selling regional financial cooperation. Notably, Kazakhstan was the primary Central Asian state to function a non-permanent member of the U.N. Safety Council from 2017 to 2018.
The nation has additionally served as a impartial venue for the Astana Course of on Syria, internet hosting 20 rounds of peace negotiations to resolve the Syrian battle.
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