THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
 
The geographical position: Kazakhstan is located in the central part of Eurasia.
      
The area: 2,724,900 square meters.
      
The population: 15,300,000 residents (2006).
      
The capital (as of 2007): Astana (about 600,000 residents).  Alma-Ata, the former capital, retains its position as the financial, economic, social and cultural center of the country.
      
The administrative territorial division: 14 regions and 2 independent administrative territorial units. 
      
The official language: The Kazakh language.  The Russian language is officially used by the state authorities and local government bodies along with the Kazakh language.
      
The National Holiday: The Independence Day (December 16).

The State Structure: Kazakhstan is a republic with a presidential form of government.  President N.A. Nazarbayev is the head of the state (President Nazarbayev was reelected President for another 7 years term in 2005). 

The Legislative Authority: The bicameral parliament is composed of the Senate as the upper chamber (Chairman K.K. Tokayev), and the Majilis as the lower chamber (Chairman A.E. Moussin).  

The Executive Authority: The government headed by the prime minister (K.K. Massimov).      
      
Political Parties: Kazakhstan has 11 officially registered political parties.  The major Peoples Democratic Party Nour-Otan (in excess of one million members) is headed by N.A. Nazarbayev.
      
The National Economy: Kazakhstan occupies one of the leading positions in the world in terms of its uranium, zink, tungsten, barite, silver, plumbum, chromites, copper, molybdenum and gold reserves.  Major oil and natural gas reserves are concentrated in the western regions of the country; they are being intensively developed. 
      
The Industry: The leading branches of industry include mining, ferrous and non-ferrous metals production, machine building, oil processing and petrochemicals.
      
The Agriculture: Grain crops and animal breeding.
      
Recently, the economy of Kazakhstan has been growing fast.  In 2007, the GDB growth rate was 8.7%.

Export and Import Operations: Kazakhstan exports ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ores, fuel, oil and petrochemicals, etc.  The principal partners of Kazakhstan include Russia, China, France, and Iran.  The items imported by Kazakhstan include machinery, equipment, vehicles, consumer goods.  The principal partners that export their commodities to Kazakhstan include Russia, Germany, China, Ukraine and the USA.
      
The Monetary Unit: Tenge.
      
Russia/Kazakhstan  Relationship    

Diplomatic relations were established between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on October 22, 1992.  The contacts between the countries are very frequent, and a regular dialogue is maintained at both the highest and high levels.

Relations between Russia and Kazakhstan are famous for their intensive and informative dialogue, wide-scale bilateral partnership, and intensive interactions in the international arena.