New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee greeted the people of Kazakhstan on its 25th Independence Day, which falls on Friday.

In a message to his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev, Mukherjee said: "On behalf of the government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend to you and to the people of Kazakhstan warm greetings and felicitations on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Kazakhstan's Independence."

"The impressive progress made by Kazakhstan in all spheres during the last 25 years owes much to your wise leadership," he added.

Mukherjee further said: "The close and friendly cooperation between India and Kazakhstan has grown in these years and I am confident that through our common endeavours our broad based and friendly bilateral relationship will continue to deepen further for the mutual benefit of our peoples."

Kazakhstan achieved independence from the Soviet Union on December 16, 1991.