Astana, Jan 26 (IANS) The temperature outside was a bone-chilling minus 31 degrees Celsius but this did not come in the way of India's 61st Republic Day being celebrated with fervour and enthusiasm in this Kazakhstan capital Tuesday.

The programme commenced with the hoisting of the national flag by Indian Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar at the embassy residence followed by the singing of the national anthem, as also a few patriotic songs.

In a brief address on the occasion, the ambassador recounted the rapid strides that relations between India and Kazakhstan have taken over the last one year, the highlight of which was the presence of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev as the chief guest at 60th Republic Day parade New Delhi in January 2009.

During Nazarbayev's visit, the two countries had decided to upgrade the level of their bilateral relations to that of a strategic partnership, Sajjanhar recalled, expressing the hope that 2010 would witness further strengthening and diversification of bilateral relations.

'Celebration of the Republic Day in spite of the severity of the weather conditions helped the members of the Indian community to meet, interact and socialise with each other in a happy and joyous atmosphere,' an embassy statement said.

During the year just gone by, several economic and commercial delegations, including from the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of commerce and Industry, as well as of private business entrepreneurs including from Tata International, IL&FS, Punj Lloyd and Ultratech India have visited Kazakhstan to explore fresh opportunities for strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

Also during the year, a bust of Rabindranath Tagore was installed in Ust Kamenogorsk, the capital of East Kazakhstan province.