The International scientific - practical Conference «From idea to reality: to the 25th anniversary of the Eurasian Initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV»

Today, the Nazarbayev Center hosted the international scientific-practical conference «From Idea to Reality: for the 25th anniversary of the Eurasian initiative of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev». The event is timed to the anniversary of the speech of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the idea of «practical Eurasianism» at Moscow State University, named after M.V. Lomonosov and the five-year anniversary of the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Greetings to the participants of the conference were sent by the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

«The modern Eurasian Economic Union is a huge market with a foreign trade turnover of over $ 750 billion. The aggregate GDP is 2 trillion dollars, and the population exceeds 180 million people. The member states of the association achieved a positive growth trend and achieved a significant increase in the volume of foreign and mutual trade. The international cooperation is actively developing.

In the near future of the Eurasian Economic Union, we see an open economic community, organically integrated into the world economic system as a reliable bridge between Europe and growing Asia. The economic integration effort can become a key source of diversification and economic growth, strengthening competitiveness, improving the business climate and increasing the investment attractiveness of our states.

In general, we are taking confident steps towards achieving the main goals – the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor. I am confident that the proposals and initiatives worked out during the conference will serve to the benefit of the development of dialogue between our states. I wish all the participants success and fruitful work», read the appeal of Elbasy, the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Darkhan Kaletayev.

On behalf of the Russian leader, made a speech Vladimir Chernov, the Head of the Office of the President of the Russian Federation on Interregional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.

«Over the past quarter of a century, the countries of the Eurasian space have come a long way: from the idea of  uniting equal states, outlined by the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev at Moscow University, to a successful economic union. The Eurasian integration project has fully proved its effectiveness. EEU’s  member countries are increasing trade, economic, investment and humanitarian ties. Cross-border and interregional cooperation is developing dynamically. And of course, it is important that the integration processes within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union provide additional opportunities for strengthening the relations of strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Kazakhstan for the benefit of our fraternal peoples», emphasized in his letter Vladimir Putin.

The conference was attended by about 300 people, including representatives of the leadership of the Eurasian Economic Commission, parliaments, presidential administrations, foreign ministries of Russia and Kazakhstan, heads of foreign diplomatic missions in the Kazakh capital, leading experts, public figures, journalists of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Among the participants is Viktor Sadovnichy, the Rector of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

«The year 2019 can rightly be called the anniversary year of Eurasian integration. The idea expressed by Nursultan Nazarbayev to create a Eurasian Union meant the proclamation of new principles of relations based on respect, sovereignty and independence of each state. It was important then, in conditions when the countries of the post-Soviet space only began to form statehood and were acutely aware of the significance of independence. It is deeply natural that the idea of the Eurasian Union was voiced from the lips of the Kazakhstan Leader, because Kazakhstan is located in the center of Eurasia – the largest continent of the earth. We can say that this is one of the most Eurasian countries», said V. Sadovnichy, welcoming the participants of the conference.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Dariga Nazarbayeva, the welcome was conveyed by the Deputy Serik Bekturganov.

«Today at the new historical stage of converting and transformation, carried out both in the political and in the socio-economic spheres of our state, the significance of the idea of the First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy has increased and acquired a new outline. From the history we know a lot of facts bright and fateful leadership. To assess the scale, significance of initiatives and ideas of the Leader of the country, a certain historical period is necessary. A quarter of a century is the chronological distance that makes it possible to comprehend the original idea, evaluate the results, analyze the meaning and role of Elbasy in this process», noted in her address  D. Nazarbayeva.

Dmitry Mezentsev, the Chairman of the Economic Policy Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, also stressed the historical role of the Elbasy initiative:

«Today we pay tribute to the depth, foresight, wisdom of the idea of the First President of Kazakhstan, expressed 25 years ago. Today, in essence, plunging into history, we touched an event, the scale of which we can already assess today. I am absolutely convinced that the importance of the idea, the big work, which is confirmed by interstate documents, will only increase».

Within the framework of the plenary session and two panel sessions, an open exchange of views took place on issues such as efficiency factors and raising the international status of the Eurasian Economic Union in the face of the challenges of the 21st century, the role of Big Eurasia in the modern system of international coordinates, promising areas of economic integration in the Eurasian space.

The conference is organized by the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy and the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy together with the Moscow State University named after      M.V. Lomonosov with the support of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Nur-Sultan city.