The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, congratulated citizens of Kazakhstan on Independence Day, the agency reports citing the press service of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

"On behalf of the President Obama and the people of the United States I congratulate citizens of Kazakhstan on the 18th anniversary of Independence Day, December 16, 2009. Cooperation between our countries is based on mutual respect and mutual interests - it strengthens security and prosperity of our people."

The text underlined that "the United States was the first country in the world that had recognized independence of Kazakhstan." "Since then, we have been closely working with each other on improvement of our economic relations, formation of responsible and reliable energy future, guarantee of regional security, and reduction of threat of nuclear weapons.