Kazakhstan prime minister arrives in Abu Dhabi

Askar Mamin on two-day official visit to the Emirates

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin is welcomed by Mohammed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, on arrival at the Presidential Flight airport in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Wam

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin arrives in Abu Dhabi, where he is welcomed by Mohammed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs. Wam

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Sunday. Wam

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Sunday. Wam

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Askar Mamin, arrived to the UAE on Sunday for a two-day official visit.

He was received at the Presidential Flight airport in Abu Dhabi by Mohammed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs.

Mr Mamin's first stop was Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, where he was accompanied by Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, chairman of the Department of Community Development Abu Dhabi, and taken on a tour of the grounds.

The prime minister and his accompanying delegation visited the tomb of UAE Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, and spoke of his legacy.

He was then given a guided tour of the mosque by Dr Yousif Al Obaidli, director-general of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre.

At the end of the visit, Dr Al Obaidli gave Mr Mamin a copy of two of the centre's publications Spaces of Light, a photography book, and another book about places of worship in Islamic history.

Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan were established in 1992. The two countries collaborate across several fields, including construction, chemistry, transportation and logistics, engineering and, most notably, space.

The UAE's first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, entered space in September last year while on board a rocket that launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, last visited the Emirates in January, when he met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The pair witnessed the signing of a number of energy and economic agreements between the two countries. These included co-operation in the petrochemical industry, a bilateral trade agreement and a partnership between the UAE Central Bank and Astana International Financial Centre.