"We firmly stand for strategic partnership with Russia, China and the United States," he said during a ceremony in the Kazakh capital to inaugurate him for as president. Long-time leader Nazarbayev has maintained friendly ties with neighboring Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and is keen to develop contacts, especially in the energy sphere, with both the U.S. and China. He opened a $3-billion oil pipeline to the latter only last month.
In addition, the president, who was elected for another seven years in a landslide election win in December, turned his sights farther afield. "The expansion of cooperation with the European Union and Muslim countries is a priority of our foreign policy," he said, adding that the country's foreign policy was based on a clear understanding of its international commitments in terms of energy security, international security and stability.
He also said that Kazakhstan, which has enjoyed dynamic economic growth in the last few years, would focus on significant progress in integration with its neighbors in Central Asia to ensure regional security.
