Going from strength to strength

THE independence day of any nation is one of its most significant holidays, and as Kazakhstan celebrates its 23rd anniversary of gaining independence on Dec 16, it is an occasion to tell the story of the birth of the nation and reiterate its key values while celebrating its triumphs and achievements.

Kazakhstan has made a remarkable achievement in emerging from the shadow of the former Soviet Union's nearly 70-year communist regime to establish one of the region's strongest economies and leading peaceful nations. It has worked hard to cultivate its abundant natural resources, has built a new capital nearly from scratch, has become a world leader in the anti-nuclear weapons movement and regularly unites the world's religious leaders in dialogue.

Independent Kazakhstan has been blessed with the resources to build a strong nation, including abundant oil and gas, as well as uranium and rare earth metals. But it has also been the character of the people and policies, such as its multi-vector foreign policy that seeks to develop positive relations with all nations, that has allowed it to progress in the uncertainty of the post-Soviet years, local reports cited officials as saying, ahead of the independence day celebrations.

The date Dec 16, 1991 marked the beginning of the country charting its own path into the future and pushing forward with the Kazakhstan Way, said Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The process has not been easy and the growing up issues of any nation are always difficult.

But the country has made remarkable achievements to surmount these difficulties. The birth pains of an independent Kazakhstan are now part of history, and it is looking to the future with confidence and new hope based on its significant achievements thus far. Kazakhstan has grown tremendously and is now among the 50 most competitive countries in the world.

Mr Nazarbayev went on to list seven assets Kazakhstan gained upon independence, including its land and secure borders, the unity of Kazakhstan's people, the country's culture and language, its industry and innovation, the Society of Universal Labor the country is building, the city of Astana and the nation's sense of global responsibility.

"Independence rallied the people under the single shanyrak (top of the Kazakh yurt made from felt) of the assembly, guardian of peace and harmony. Our spiritual unity is the main foundation of the secular state and society," Mr Nazarbayev said.