ASTANA, November 20. /TASS/: Given its geopolitical location, Kazakhstan should pursue a multi-vector policy, incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told reporters after voting in the Sunday's presidential election.
"I believe that given our geopolitical situaiton, given the fact that we have over $500 billion involved in our economy, given that there are global companies operating in our market, we simply have to pursue a multi-vector, as they say now, foreign policy," Tokayev said.
The election platform of the incumbent president declares the creation of a fair Kazakhstan as its main goal. It also says that the foreign policy course aimed at protection of national interests, strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation with all interested states, international peace and security will be continued.
In addition, at the end of October, President Tokayev said that in the coming years the authorities of the republic plan to launch a network of border trade and economic centers with Russia, China, and Central Asian countries. In September, Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan would make every effort to further develop allied relations with Russia, an eternal strategic partnership with China, and comprehensive cooperation with brotherly Central Asian states.
Early presidential elections kicked off in Kazakhstan on Sunday. Six candidates are in the running, including incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev who represents the People’s Coalition.
The voter turnout was 23.37% at 10am local time (7am Moscow time), according to the country’s Central Election Commission.
