Mikhail Mishustin and Nursultan Nazarbayev met during the Russian Prime Minister’s working visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
From the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev
First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin at a meeting with Mikhail Mishustin
Mikhail Mishustin’s meeting with first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev: I am delighted to see you in Kazakhstan. You have had talks with your colleague, with our President. All the questions regarding our relations are absolutely clear.
I believe Russian-Kazakh cooperation is an example for all other states. Over the 30 years since the collapse of the Union, we have never had any disagreements or conflicts because Kazakhstan is determined to always be there for Russia and make good on the agreements on our strategic partnership and eternal friendship, as stated in the joint documents we signed. This is in the interests of both states.
Now I would like to remind you of our meeting that took place on 1 February 2020. It was a difficult period for you and all of us. I have been keeping an eye on the developments and, as an experienced person who knows how things were done in the former Soviet Union, I can now say that you are coping with this as well as anyone could expect. Kazakhstan and Russia are seriously responding to the coronavirus problems and the economic challenges it caused. You took over and you got right down to business, and you are getting the job done. Congratulations. I recently met with Mr Putin – we talked, discussed things and compared notes. We will work as before.
Kazakhstan is totally interested in the expansion of bilateral cooperation, in industry and other fields.
Welcome again.
Mikhail Mishustin: Mr Nazarbayev,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the warm welcome you have given to all our delegation and to convey the kindest words and warmest greetings from President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
Indeed I have had some very constructive meetings. Yesterday I had talks here in Nur-Sultan, bilateral meetings with Ministers from the respected Askar Mamin’s Cabinet. I also fondly remember my first trip to Kazakhstan, where we met in February 2020. That was my first official visit as head of government.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: Your first foreign visit. That actually underlined the high level of our relations.
Mikhail Mishustin: We have discussed the bilateral agenda intensively today. I would like to repeat that bilateral trade has increased by 34 percent.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: This year?
Mikhail Mishustin: Yes, in six months. Moreover, most importantly, it has exceeded the pre-pandemic level by 20 percent. And we are targeting a $20 billion mark in mutual trade by the end of this year. I believe we have every chance of achieving it.
You mentioned cooperation in industry. We discussed a lot of joint projects yesterday. Among other things, we considered aircraft manufacturing, mining, chemical projects and lots more.
We absolutely need to discuss cooperation in the field of digitalisation. We are implementing a whole range of major initiatives, both in the EAEU and in bilateral relations. Yesterday I visited a perfect centre that my colleagues have set up for e-government. Really very fascinating projects.
Frankly, we have no secrets, and we are also mutually open. We have been showing what we have done at the Russian Government’s Coordination Centre. Yesterday I was amazed at how fast our colleagues have implemented the most up-to-date solutions. Sberbank’s project to develop a relevant platform could also be very interesting.
There are a whole range of topics on our bilateral agenda today.
And of course, regarding the coronavirus, you have mentioned our utmost efforts in fighting this drastic infection. The newly launched Sputnik V production at the Karaganda pharmaceutical factory, and even the project’s openness have been achieved through huge efforts made by our people involved in this project. More than 5 million doses have been produced. We are really satisfied with this work and we always stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder with our Kazakhstan’s brothers.
In conclusion, I would just like to repeat that we do not just value our fraternal and neighbourly relations, but we are determined to further develop the bilateral agenda and our relations within the EAEU in every way possible.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: Kazakhstan is ever grateful for all these years of support. We have resolved the most complicated border problems between our countries, including in the Caspian Sea. And in subsequent years, we always had each other's backs. And we have always supported Russia's policy both in the region and in the world. We will continue doing so.
As for the further expansion of our close ties, we will develop more joint ventures, including in the defence sector. The territory is ready to accommodate any extra facilities you have. Let us get some of them here, and we will manufacture the products for Russia and Kazakhstan, and develop industry.
We have made great progress in processing. I have been pursuing the policy of industrialisation of Kazakhstan for 10 years now. And here are some examples – processing has grown by 20 percent. Amid this stupid embargo the West has imposed, we need to deepen internal cooperation.
You will meet with the EAEU government today. As the union’s honourary chairman, I am keeping an eye on this at Vladimir Putin’s suggestion. We need to strengthen this organisation. We need our other neighbours to join. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan should be willing. We also need to work with Turkmenistan. I always said this.
