Kazakhstan is preparing to celebrate is celebrating the official inauguration today Wednesdayof its new capital, Astana, in the vast Kazakh Step at the centre of the country.

On the eve of the ceremonies, a huge pageant was held with fireworks flaring across the city.

A BBC correspondent in Kazakhstan says Astana has been transformed since it was declared the formal seat of government last November; the old capital, Almaty -- a thousand miles to the south east -- was felt to be too remote; whereas Astana is closer to the border with Russia.

Our correspondent says the move was designed to pre-empt any territorial designs by Moscow and to assert the Kazakh government's grip over the more multi-racial north.