President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cited shared historical facts linking Kazakhstan and Iran. According to Egemen.kz, copies of these manuscripts were delivered to Kazakhstan today by the Iranian delegation.

The Head of State recalled that the Great Silk Road passed through the territories of Kazakhstan and Iran, facilitating the spread of technologies and religions, as well as the development of cultural and spiritual ties.

“Iranian archives contain records of the Kazakh Khanate and descriptions of the Kazakhs as zhauzhurek — a brave and valiant people. It is known that close relations existed between Tauke Khan and Shah Sultan Husayn. Representatives of the two countries met in Moscow, and an Iranian ambassador travelled to the Kazakh steppe. There is also evidence that Khan Ablai sent an envoy to Nader Shah, expressing his intention to develop cooperation. The Taiqazan, located in the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan, was crafted in the workshop of the Iranian master Abd al-Aziz Sharaf al-Din Tabrizi,” the President noted.

Tokayev also emphasised that a significant proportion of words in the Kazakh language are of Persian origin. Scholars estimate their share at approximately 4 per cent. Such words include astana, paida, körpe, däuren, dári, dárúmen, aula, oraza, and many others.

“Today, more than 5,000 Kazakhs live in the cities of Gorgan, Bandar-Torkaman and Gonbad-e Kavus in Golestan Province in northern Iran. Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and its heroes are close to the peoples of Turan. The great Kazakh poet Abai was familiar with the works of such Persian classics as Ferdowsi, Hafez and Saadi. The copies of ancient manuscripts brought by the Iranian delegation are devoted to the history and culture of the Kazakhs of the eighteenth century. The 27 manuscripts presented contain analyses of the socio-economic situation of the Kazakh Khanate, its relations with neighbouring states, regional competition, the political and economic situation in Turkestan, as well as the actions of the Russian Empire with regard to Kazakh lands and khanates. They also describe the discovery of deposits of coal, iron, copper, lead and turquoise on Kazakh territory and issues related to their development. These materials are of great interest. Thank you very much, Mr President,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.