On July 1, Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took part in a roundtable organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium as part of the «Shanyraq Dialogue» discussion platform to mark the entry into force of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Roman Vassilenko, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium, who highlighted the historic significance of the new Constitution’s entry into force, describing it as the beginning of a new stage in the country’s political modernization. He also emphasized the symbolic timing of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Brussels shortly before this milestone, underscoring the link between Kazakhstan’s domestic reforms and the development of its strategic partnership with the European Union.
Zhandos Shaimardanov presented an expert overview of Kazakhstan’s new constitutional model.
In his remarks, he stressed that the entry into force of the new Constitution marks a fundamentally new stage in Kazakhstan’s political and legal development. According to Mr. Shaimardanov, the renewed Basic Law is the result of broad public dialogue and establishes a new architecture of state governance based on modern constitutional values, with priority given to human rights, freedoms, and dignity.
The Director of KazISS noted that the constitutional reforms provide a solid institutional foundation for the country’s continued modernization, strengthening the rule of law, enhancing the state’s accountability to its citizens, and ensuring the sustainability of ongoing reforms.
Particular attention during his presentation was devoted to the practical implementation of the constitutional reforms, further improvement of national legislation, and the development of a new model of national progress based on human capital, knowledge, innovation, and digital transformation.
During the discussion, participants exchanged views on the implementation of constitutional reforms, the prospects for Kazakhstan’s political modernization, and the further development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
Eduards Stiprais, the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia, emphasized the importance of the consistent implementation of Kazakhstan’s institutional reforms. Dietmar Krissler, Head of the Central Asia Division at the European External Action Service, reaffirmed the European side’s support for Kazakhstan’s political transformation agenda, as outlined during the official visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Brussels.
At the conclusion of the event, participants noted that the «Shanyraq Dialogue» continues to serve as an effective platform for open expert dialogue between Kazakhstan and its European partners on political reforms, domestic development, and international cooperation.
