President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their
roles as strategic partners and allies at both narrow and extended format talks.
The two countries are actively developing mutually beneficial partnership
across all areas of cooperation. Tokayev specifically focused on trade and
economic relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, noting that with a steady
growth, mutual trade reached $27 billion last year, with plans to expand it to
$30 billion soon.
«The agenda of your
visit is quite extensive. Members of the governments worked out and discussed
all its issues ahead of the visit. Today, we will adopt very important
documents – 20 agreements that will undoubtedly give an additional powerful
impetus to further developing our good neighborliness and cooperation,» Tokayev
said.
«Kazakhstan is indeed
our strategic partner and a reliable ally. During our discussions in a narrow
format, we focused on the issues that arise within our bilateral relations.
However, the most important aspect is our shared commitment to seek solutions
to these challenges and find them. I am not aware of any issue we have been
unable to resolve together. With this positive mindset, we will achieve
significant success,» Putin noted.
Tokayev and Putin also
participated in the 20th Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum via
videoconference. The platform, where businesses conclude new contracts and
define areas of cooperation, has demonstrated its effectiveness many times over
the past 20 years. Russia currently accounts for nearly 20 percent of
Kazakhstan’s foreign trade, with 23,000 Russian and joint companies
successfully operating in the country. Tokayev elaborated on key issues of
inter-industry cooperation, noting a qualitatively new level in the fuel and
energy sector. The parties have begun developing the large offshore field
Kalamkas-Sea – Khazar. In addition, the launched plants in oil and gas
chemistry and mechanical engineering have yielded good results.
After the forum, the
heads of state officially opened a branch of Al-Farabi Kazakh National
University in Omsk via videoconference as well. This marks the launch of the
first Kazakh university in Russia, with admissions slated to begin in September
next year.
Later, both Presidents
made a joint statement to the media. Tokayev called Putin's state visit an
event that marks an important milestone in the development of Kazakh-Russian
relations.
«Priority attention
during the negotiations was given to economic issues. The main tasks focused on
deepening cooperation in strategic sectors and further increasing mutual trade
turnover. The updated Intergovernmental Program for Interregional and
Cross-Border Cooperation was signed during the Interregional Cooperation Forum,»
Tokayev added.
«The newly signed Joint
Statement sets new ambitious goals for further deepening the strategic
partnership between our two countries. Their implementation will be facilitated
by the numerous intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents concluded,» Putin
remarked.
Following the talks,
the Presidents adopted a Joint Statement on deepening strategic partnership within
the new global order. A total of 19 agreements and memorandums were signed during
Putin’s state visit, reaffirming the determination of Astana and Moscow to
further mutually beneficial cooperation.
Related Articles
