Gul marks 12th anniversary of Astan becoming Kazakh capital

President Abdullah Gul went to Kazakhstan over the weekend to attend celebrations marking the 12th anniversary of Astana becoming Kazakhstan's capital. Speaking at the opening of the "Astana Days" celebrations, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev touted a rising tide of foreign investments in Astana, saying that investments had risen 18-fold since Astana became the capital 12 years ago. Gul yesterday met with Nazarbayev at a dinner and is set to attend his 70th birthday party. Gul is also set to inaugurate a shopping and entertainment center built by a Turkish construction firm in Astana.