Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

The logo of the Astana 2017 Expo, which will take place from June to September 2017 in the capital of Kazakhstan, is a circle of three petals that symbolizes energy and perpetual motion.

This matches the slogan of the exhibition, "Energy of the Future," meaning that it is dedicated to one of the most urgent current topics - alternative energy sources. It will collect the latest achievements in renewable energy.

This will allow visitors to focus on the benefits of energy of the future, namely environmental cleanliness, low cost of operation and environmental friendliness.

The Astana Expo aims to attract the attention of humanity to measures capable of ensuring the management of sustainable energy sources.

This is not an ordinary event for Kazakhstan but the first time it has ever hosted such a large-scale exhibition, drawing global attention.

At the beginning of September, during the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to China, it was announced that the Committee on the Promotion of International Trade of China has committed itself to attract investment in the exhibition.

In addition to financial flows, China will help in providing analytical and methodological support and sharing the experience of the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

During the talks between Kazakh and Chinese delegations, the development of cooperation in the field of investment, tourism and business was discussed.

Five international organizations, including the World Bank, have confirmed their participation in the expo. The Kazakh government is in ongoing negotiations on granting visa-free travel for US citizens, and the opening of direct flights between New York and Astana.

After visiting the construction exhibition complex this spring, Nazarbayev emphasized the need for efficient use of constructed buildings after the exhibition, stating that the buildings should not be abandoned or unused, as has happened in some countries.

Nazarbayev noted that the aim of the expo includes a demonstration of the achievements of Kazakhstan as well as international understanding of its capabilities. The republic is known as one of the largest energy states, but there is a need to show the world a new country looking to the future.

At the beginning of last year, it was decided to allocate one billion tenge ($3.62 million) from the National Fund to support economic growth and employment in 2014-15, in two tranches of 500 million tenge.

At a time when prices for oil and other exports were at a high level, revenues from exports of raw materials in the country were sent to the National Fund. One of the fund's roles is increasing economic resilience to external shocks, including the falling prices of natural resources.

During the annual address to the nation in November 2014, Nazarbayev said the construction of the complex should be continued, allocating 40 billion tenge of credit in addition to the already directed 25 billion.

Nazarbayev also noted that the expo should be a center of learning and should introduce international experience in the search for the future of energy and the green economy. It is necessary to create the conditions for the transfer of public transport to clean fuels, and to introduce electric vehicles and create the appropriate infrastructure for them.

The expo concept preserves the ideas of British craftspeople, who initiated the Great Exhibition in 1851 in the UK. Since then, the expo has always demonstrated not only the latest scientific and technological achievements and development prospects, but also history, traditions and culture. The Astana Expo will be no exception.

The author is an observer on Central Affairs based in Beijing. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn