Kazakhstan to host Indian PM next year: Envoy

NEW DELHI - Kazakhstan is looking forward to expanding civil nuclear cooperation with India and hosting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next year, the envoy of the energy-rich Central Asian country said here Friday.

Underlining his country’s desire to elevate the country’s relationship with India from the “potential to real partnership”, Kazakhstans Ambassador to India Doulat Kuanyshev said his country was seeking stronger relations with an emerging India and a “regional and global player”.

“We are working out the details and the date is yet to be finalised,” he said while referring to the visit by Manmohan Singh to Kazakhstan next year. He said several framework agreements are likely to be signed to during that visit, including many business deals.

Speaking at the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank, Kuanyshev said Kazakhstan had much to offer India, besides natural resources.

Kazakhstan would be keen to invest in Indian infrastructure projects and building nuclear plants, he said.

In a signal honour underlining its special ties with Kazakhstan, India had invited Kazakth President Nursultan Nazarbayev last year as chief guest at the Republic Day function.

An MoU between Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Kazakhstans state owned KazAtomProm for the supply of uranium was signed during Nazarbayev’s visit.

The two sides finalized a roadmap for implementing decisions taken during Nazarbayev’s visit when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s visited the oil-rich Central Asian country in May.