ASTANA. March 10. KAZINFORM Kazakh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Kairat Lama Sharif and Riyadh Governor Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz discussed ways and mechanisms of establishment of twin-city relations between Astana and Riyadh and prospects of its development at the meeting held on March 9, Kazinform refers to the Kazakh Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

The Governor of the Saudi capital city complimented the bilateral relations of two states and invited Astana Mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov to visit Riyadh in order to sign memo on establishment of twin-city relations between the cities. The sides noted that Astana becomes a megapolice where important international political and economic events take place. In this regard, according to the Saudi side, there is a necessity of activation of the bilateral contact at different levels and promotion of practical realization of perspectives and tasks planned for the nearest future.

In this context, the Days of Culture of Saudi Arabia will be held in Astana on June 1-5. Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation council (GCC) Abd al-Rahman al-Atieh will visit Astana on June 14-18 as well. The Kazakh side intends to propose the GCC to take part in the organization of the VII World Islamic Economic Forum in Astana in 2011 that will be a platform for opinions exchange on the whole spectrum of interaction of Muslim countries in the trade-economic and investment cooperation issues and introduction of the Islamic banking in Astana.

Astana will host the III Astana Economic Forum on July 1-2, 2011. A delegation of Saudi Arabia headed by Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza will take part in the Forum as well.

As the Riyadh Governor noted, the two capital cities have great potential that should be used in the future.