Kazakhstan's main wealth is its people - Crown Prince of Norway Haakon Magnus

Is it the first time you visit Kazakhstan? What are your impressions on our capital city?

I am very impressed with the pace of construction of Astana. Nor can we leave aside those achievements, Kazakhstan has made during the years of independence. But the most important and pleasant are the meetings with people. They are the leadership of your state, students of the Eurasian National University and those whom I met within my visit to SYSLAB Employment Center. We had a very warm reception, and this is the most vivid impression from my visit. I take this opportunity to thank everybody on this occasion.

At your parents' wish your childhood did not differ from the life of an ordinary child. Did you feel yourself a prince while attending a regular school?

I am what I am. I was born in a royal family and I am a prince. At the same time I believe that my parents once made the right decision, so I went to regular school and was raised mostly as all Norwegian children.

After graduation you began your military carrier. How important is the military service in the life of a man?

There are many options to choose your own path in life. After school I chose military service. It gave me a lot. This was a science for me on how to live and work in team. I lived in cramped conditions on board of a warship. We had a task and implemented it together. The time showed that the navy was a good experience for me.

Our traditional question - what qualities should have a modern monarch?

I think every person regardless of his/her origin should develop positive qualities for the good of the society.

As is known, you take part in every session of the World Economic Forum in Davos as a member of the Young Global Leaders group that was established in 2005. Today you've met with the students of the Eurasian National University. What, in your opinion, are the main interests of young leaders today?

It is very important to see ourselves in the modern world and decide what we would like the world look like. On this basis, we need to set a particular goal to ourselves and work together on its achievement. And, of course, it is necessary to be able to rely on our powers in this undertaking. I believe in those great resources and potential hidden in the modern younger generation. And I admit that young people take active part in the decision making processes.

Kazakhstan and Norway are separated by the distance but have much in common. What potential do these countries have for development of mutual cooperation?

There are many opportunities for further development of contacts between Norway and Kazakhstan. The energy sector is certainly an important field where the development of interaction will be profitable. But there exist other dimensions as well, for example, trade. To date, about ten percent of wheat consumed in Norway is imported from your country. In exchange for it we export seafood to Kazakhstan. Tourism is another important field of cooperation that should be further developed as long as the role of Kazakhstan on the world arena grows.

In 2003 you were a Goodwill Ambassador of the UNDP, what was your function?

I am still a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Development Program. I deal with the so-called "Millennium Development Goals". I have visited many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America within the Program in order to find out those differences of the program in the countries where it functions.

Why were you interested in that theme?

The Millennium Development Goals of the UN are eight particular tasks that were agreed by the world leaders in 2000. I believe the results were achieved on all these eight topics but with big difference in regions and separate goals. And I think it is necessary to count our achievements. For example, I believe that we will manage to reduce the poverty twofold by 2015.

Norway successfully worked on the social provision during the financial crisis. How do you think, is there a way out of the crisis?

Norway was in more advantageous position as compared to other countries. We have stronger banks and big monetary reserves that mitigated the impact of the financial crisis. At the same time, we have more open economy; therefore everything that happens to our partners influences Norway as well.

Thank you for the interview.