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Distinguished Guests
Nazarbayev University is honoured to host visits by distinguished guests: high-ranking political and public figures, heads of states, Parliaments and international organizations. Since 2010, Nazarbayev University hosted over 50 distinguished guests. Among them Xi Jinping, Prince Albert II, John Kerry, David Cameron, Shinzo Abe, Dmitry Medvedev, Narendra Modi, Christine Lagarde, Catherine Ashton, Suma Chakrabarti and others.
Ludger Schuknecht
Vice President and Corporate Secretary at the Asian Infrastructure Investment BankJuly 11, 2023
Ludger Schuknecht gave a lecture on the projects the bank implements in Kazakhstan and emphasized that Kazakhstan has every opportunity to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Also during the visit, Mr. Schuknecht and his delegation were informed about the current projects of ISSAI in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
Kristalina Georgieva
Managing Director of the International Monetary FundJune 08, 2023
Ms Georgieva had a talk on "Paving the Way to More Resilient, Inclusive, and Green Economies in Kazakhstan and the CCA". She mentioned three major areas (inclusion, private sector development, and mitigating the effects of the climate change) to be able to withstand the external shocks. The lecture was followed by Q&A session.
Halimah Yacob
President of SingaporeMay 23, 2023
Ms. Halimah Yacob had a lecture on the topic “From the Lion City to the Great Steppe”. In her speech she mentioned close and mutually beneficial 30-year-long cooperation between Kazakhstan and Singapore. At the end of the visit Her Excellency received the title of Honorary Professor of NU.
Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs of SingaporeOctober 11, 2022
Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman had a meeting with the Management of NU and short talk on the topic: “Challenges of a Small State and ongoing developments of Singapore” with NU Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP) Dean, faculty members, and students, which was followed by a Q&A session.
Abdulla Shahid
President of the 76th session of the United Nations General AssemblyAugust 12, 2022
In his speech he informed the audience about his initiative, a PGA youth fellowship program to support and invite eight promising young diplomats from underrepresented countries at the UN, to work in his office. There are also plans to create a UN Youth Office to promote more diverse and effective youth participation in the organization.
Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari
Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar November 12, 2019
Rustam Minnikhanov
President of the Republic of Tatarstan April 7, 2018
Angel Gurria
The Fifth OECD Secretary-GeneralOctober 23, 2017
Mr. Gurria in his speech explored the sources of discontent towards globalization, looking at both recent challenges and long-term structural shifts before presenting an overview of the solutions to make globalization fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable – ultimately, to make globalization work better to improve people’s lives.
Suma Chakrabarti
President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)June 23, 2017
Sir Suma Chakrabarti’s lecture on “Kazakhstan and Central Asia: the transition to effective market economies” explained the EBRD’s vision of what a modern economy should look like, how Kazakhstan was doing in its economic transition and what next steps the Bank recommended to Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Rashid Alimov
Ex-Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)April 5, 2017
Mr. Alimov had a lecture on the topic “Cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”. The Secretary-General noted Kazakhstan’s special contribution to and role in the organisation.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan March 23, 2017
Christine Lagarde
President of the European Central Bank Ex-Managing Director of the International Monetary FundMay 24, 2016
Lecture by Ms. Christine Lagarde was held on the current and prospective global and regional environment, as well as the challenges and opportunities for Kazakhstan, the Caucasus and Central Asia region.
John Kerry
Ex-Secretary of State of the United States (2013-2017)November 2, 2015
In his speech named “The United States and Central Asia: Partners for the 21st Century” the US Secretary of State talked about integration processes and joint efforts to tackle global challenges.
Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of JapanOctober 27, 2015
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a lecture on Japan’s cooperation with Central Asian states. He also touched upon the Japan’s active assistance to Kazakhstan in training of qualified professionals in various spheres of industry and medicine.
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of IndiaJuly 7, 2015
In his speech at NU, Prime Minister Modi congratulated the first graduates of the university and emphasised the importance of education in the nation’s progress and leadership in many spheres.
Philipp Rösler
Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum May 19, 2015
Jose Manuel Barroso
Former Chairman of the European Commission (2004-2014)May 5, 2015
Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso devoted his lecture to international relations of the European Union and its response to the global crisis. Students of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Graduate School of Public Policy of NU have discussed the development of European integration, as well as developing relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan.
Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of ChinaSeptember 7, 2013
In his historical speech at NU, President Xi Jinping announced, for the first time, the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project for Eurasian integration, comprised of the New Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. Since that initial announcement, OBOR has emerged as a cornerstone of China’s economic and political outreach to Eurasia, Africa and beyond.
David Cameron
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2010-2016)July 1, 2013
Prime Minister David Cameron visited the School of Engineering that had a British university – University College London as a strategic partner (2010-2015). Future engineers demonstrated to Mr. Cameron three lab experiments in mechanical and civil engineering with usage of various technical equipment such as the wind tunnel, 3D-plotter, 4-cylinder combustion engine and the apparatus for measuring vibrations.
Catherine Ashton
The Fifth High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU November 30, 2012
Albert II
Prince of MonacoNovember 3, 2012
A visit by His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco