Moscow Days to Take Place in Astana

From December 19 to 22, Moscow Days in Kazakhstan will be held in Astana – a large‑scale program of events aimed at developing and deepening interregional and humanitarian cooperation between the Russian capital and Kazakhstan. The organizers are the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow and the Moscow Centre for International Cooperation.

The Moscow Days are timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of twinning relations between Moscow and Astana. This anniversary reflects the many years of cooperation based on trust, mutual respect, and sustainable dialogue between the two capitals, and allows not only for taking stock of joint work but also for identifying new benchmarks for the development of the partnership.

The Moscow Days program in Kazakhstan includes cultural, sports, educational, and business events aimed at different age and professional audiences. On December 19, a New Year’s performance by Father Frost and a children’s play “Buratino” performed by the Teatr na Pokrovke will take place on the Main Stage of the Gorky Theatre. On the same day, an exhibition of children’s New Year’s drawings, reflecting the festive atmosphere and friendship between peoples, will open at the Russian House in Astana.

The sports program on December 21 will bring together professional athletes from Moscow and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Judo competitions and a masterclass for young athletes will be held at Nazarbayev University, aimed at experience exchange and developing sports contacts. Rhythmic gymnastics competitions and a masterclass with the participation of leading coaches and athletes will take place at the Duman Sports Complex, which will be an important contribution to the development of junior sport and international sports cooperation.

On December 22, an open lecture by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, will be held at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, dedicated to the theme of city diplomacy and the role of megacities in international relations. On the same day, a roundtable “Moscow‑Astana Bilateral Relations: 25 Years. Results” will take place, during which the key stages and prospects for further development of cooperation between the two capitals will be discussed.

The program will conclude with a gala concert on behalf of the Moscow Government featuring the musical group “Eilenkrig Crew” and the presentation of the award “Moscow and Astana: 25 Years Together.”

Moscow Days in Kazakhstan will be an important event in the development of bilateral relations, will highlight the special nature of interaction between Moscow and Astana, and will serve as a basis for further expanding cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres.