A gala reception on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America was held at the Museum of Modern Art. The event was attended by Mayor of Almaty Darkhan Satybaldy, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan Julie Staff, and U.S. Consul General in Almaty Michelle Yerkin.

The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthems of Kazakhstan and the United States. Welcoming remarks were delivered by U.S. Consul General in Almaty Michelle Yerkin and U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Staff.

In his congratulatory speech, Darkhan Satybaldy emphasized the significance of Kazakh-American relations, noting that the United States was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan's independence.

"This year we mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the United States. Over this time, our interaction has grown to the level of a robust and reliable expanded strategic partnership," said the Mayor of Almaty.

Darkhan Satybaldy added that thanks to active high-level political dialogue, bilateral ties continue to develop steadily. He particularly highlighted the prospects for economic cooperation, calling Almaty a key logistics and business hub for American companies entering the markets of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Currently, about 400 enterprises with U.S. capital operate in the city. By the end of 2025, the volume of foreign trade between Almaty and the United States exceeded $1 billion.

The Mayor also noted the importance of the construction of a new U.S. Consulate General complex in Almaty. According to him, the implementation of this project will strengthen the city's role as a regional diplomatic, business, humanitarian, and financial center.

Among the key areas addressed in the Mayor's speech were the development of tourism and transport links. In 2025, Almaty was visited by more than 24,000 tourists from the United States. The launch of a direct Almaty–New York flight, scheduled for 2027, is expected to give new impetus to the development of bilateral contacts.

The culmination of the official part of the event was a symbolic bell-ringing ceremony, jointly performed by Mayor of Almaty Darkhan Satybaldy, U.S. Ambassador Julie Staff, and U.S. Consul General in Almaty Michelle Yerkin, held under the event's theme "Let Freedom Ring."

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the United States were established in January 1992. Today, the countries are developing an expanded strategic partnership based on mutual respect, shared interests, and trust in the future.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almaty/press/news/details/1250894?lang=ru