Kuala Lumpur (IINA) – Expo 2017 Commissioner Rapil Zhoshybayev said Kazakhstan is committed to promoting and discovering sustainable global energy solutions although it may seem strange for the country to do so considering that it has large fossil fuel reserves, BERNAMA reported.

Kazakhstan will host Expo 2017, under the theme “Future Energy” from June to September 2017 in the capital Astana.

Although Kazakhstan has substantial oil and gas reserves, it has set itself a target of meeting 50 percent of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050, Zhoshybayev said in a statement.

He added that energy security was an increasing concern for many countries, with governments worried about how they could meet the needs of their economies and citizens in future decades.

“Around the world, too, the damaging impact of climate change is becoming clearer every year, thus, increasing fears about the legacy we are leaving for future generations,” he said.

Expo 2017 will be Kazakhstan’s first major international-level event; it is also the first time the expo is being held in Central Asia.

Zhoshybayev said Expo 2017 has been receiving strong international attention and that to date, 70 countries, including Malaysia, have confirmed their participation.

Zhoshybayev, who will embark on a visit to Malaysia next week, will meet with Loo Took Gee, secretary general at the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, in Kuala Lumpur on April 4 to discuss details of Malaysia’s participation in Expo 2017.