The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev greeted the guests, 17 heads of a number of states and governments who arrived to participate in the official opening ceremony of the international exhibition “EXPO-2017”, and also introduced them to the national pavilion "Nur Alem". As it was emphasized, this is the only building in the world, made in the form of a sphere of finished shape with a diameter of 80 meters. This pavilion includes the Museum of Energy of the Future, where the zone of acquaintance with Kazakhstan is located, as well as the main types of energy.

Also in the national pavilion there are the exposition "Future Astana - the capital of Kazakhstan in 2050", space energy hall, "Creative energy" zone with 28 Kazakhstan scientific projects and projects under the concept of "Green Economy", as well as the model of the Kazakhstan materials science thermonuclear reactor "Tokamak" and a media wall with the initiatives of the Head of State in the field of energy and environmental protection.

The first to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition was the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman and his wife Ivana Zemanova. The Head of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the Commissioner of the International Specialized Exhibition "EXPO-2017" Rapil Zhoshybayev met the high guests.

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Serbia Alexander Vucic, and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi attended the ceremony.

Next came the corteges of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for the Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour ibn Zayd Al Nahyan, the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Speaker of Singapore Halima Jacob, Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, King of Spain - Philip VI, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The last to arrive was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President of the International Exhibition Bureau Steen Christensen said at the solemn ceremony that it is an honor for him to be here today. Christensen expressed gratitude to Nursultan Nazarbayev and the member countries for preparing for such an event. N. Nazarbayev, in turn, thanking his colleagues for participating in this event, noted that Kazakhstan also supports global efforts to develop the "green energy".

"We hope that the results of the Expo in Astana will bring tangible benefits to all the SCO countries and the international community as a whole," N. Nazarbayev said.

After the official opening ceremony, a concert program was held, as well as an unforgettable laser show.

The opening ceremony ended with a grandiose fireworks display. The most grandiose event of the year - the exhibition EXPO-2017, the theme of which is "Future Energy", was attended by representatives of 115 countries and 22 international organizations.

Over the course of three months, the participants present the guests with the technology of the future.

For guests and participants of the exhibition a diverse cultural and entertainment program with participation of world stars of opera, variety art, circus, international sports competitions will be held, etc.

We recall that a grandiose project construction took five years.        

Translated by Raushan MAKHMETZHANOVA