President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov became an honored guest of the World Exhibition opening ceremony in Astana

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov became an honored guest of the opening ceremony of the International Specialized Exhibition "Astana EXPO-2017" within the framework of his working visit to Kazakhstan. The exhibition will be held under the motto "Energy of the Future" at this global review, where is presented the National Pavilion of our country as well and will be demonstrated ideas and solutions on renewable energy sources and implementation of the principles of the "green economy" .

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has greeted President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov in the Palace of Independence in Astana. The Head of the Republic of Kazakhstan stressed that he was very pleased to welcome the head of Turkmenistan in Astana again, confirming the aspiration to develop friendly relations between the two countries.

Having noted with satisfaction that the relations between the countries are gaining an increasingly dynamic character, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov noted the productivity of the visit to Kazakhstan in April this year. It has given new impetus to relations in energy, transport, trade and economic cooperation, important documents were signed on expanding the partnership, the Turkmen leader said.

The heads of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed the state and prospects of interstate cooperation; spoke in favor of building up trade and economic cooperation, stimulating close business, humanitarian, scientific ties, to which the International Specialized Exhibition Astana EXPO-2017 should also promote.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov invited President Nursultan Nazarbayev to come to Ashgabat for the opening of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed gratitude for the invitation to the Asian Games-2017, noting that under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, the Turkmen people had achieved impressive successes. He also said that the interaction of the countries had acquired new dynamics today, the trade turnover had increased, including thanks the transnational railway "North-South".

After the meeting, the head of Turkmenistan and other honorary guests of Astana proceeded to the territory of the exhibition complex.
Here the Kazakhstan leader Nursultan Nazarbayev has presented the central element of the exhibition complex, the architectural symbol "EXPO-2017" - the pavilion "Nur-Alem".

The uniqueness of its design is that it is the first building in the world in the form of a "full sphere", its diameter is 80 meters, and its height is 100 meters. On the 1st floor there is a pavilion of Kazakhstan, where the exposition dedicated to the history, culture, traditions, sights of Kazakhstan and its achievements is presented. Having reviewed the pavilion of Kazakhstan, the participants of the celebration went to the Main Square in front of it, where official photographing took place.

Then the motorcade with the heads of state drove through the exhibition grounds towards the Congress Center, where the Opening Ceremony of EXPO-2017 took place.

From the stage, the President of the Bureau International des Expositions Steen Christensen addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. After then the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke. "Over the years, tremendous preparatory work was carried out to hold this review," he said, and thanked everyone who participated in this complex process by launching the International Specialized Exhibition “EXPO-2017 in Astana”.

The evening continued with a concert program and a multimedia show with a laser projection on the sphere "Nur-Alem". The final of the performance was a festive fireworks display over the territory of the exhibition complex.