The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov
Alikhan Smailov: It is my pleasure to welcome you, Mr Mishustin, to the traditional meetings in Almaty at the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting, which is taking place along with the digital forum.
We meet regularly. This testifies to the rich bilateral agenda and the strong momentum in Kazakhstani-Russian cooperation.
Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia is developing in full accordance with the spirit and principles of the Treaty on Neighbourliness and Alliance in the 21st century. Today, economic cooperation between our countries is steadily progressing, mutual trade is growing, and joint cooperation projects are being implemented. I am sure that this year will be marked by new, strong results of our cooperation both in the bilateral format and in the multilateral format within our integration associations.
An active political dialogue between the leaders of our countries ensures good momentum across the entire spectrum of the Russian-Kazakhstani strategic partnership. The last year’s main event was the official visit of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Russian Federation.
Our governments’ goal now is the implementation of the agreements reached at the top level.
In this context, I should note the productive talks by our deputy prime ministers earlier this year. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to mutually beneficial economic cooperation, discussed fuel and energy industry issues, and signed off on a roadmap for cooperation in the natural gas sector.
The government of Kazakhstan is prepared to enhance and strengthen mutually advantageous cooperation with the Russian Federation in all areas.
Russia is our key trade and economic partner. Trade between our countries grew to $24 billion in the 11 months of 2022, which is 7 percent more than the year before. In addition, industrial cooperation is seeing positive dynamics with 26 joint projects completed to the tune of almost $1 billion, and over 5,000 jobs created. Also, 84 large projects worth nearly $23 billion that will help create 24,000 more jobs are either underway or in the pipeline. These projects are basically on schedule.
This clearly shows the huge potential of Kazakhstani-Russian cooperation, which we must actively support and develop.
Mr Mishustin, I believe that the fast pace of our strategic partnership will continue to proceed in all areas.
Go ahead, Mr Mishistin, you have the floor.
Mikhail Mishustin: Greetings, Mr Smailov, friends.
We are happy to see all of you. Thank you for the traditionally warm reception and hospitality.
I would like to use this opportunity to convey best wishes and kind words from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and to you, esteemed Mr Smailov, as well as best wishes from me to your president.
We maintain constant contact, and we resolve the most urgent issues in real-time. We discuss practically all of the items on the bilateral agenda. This is our first meeting this year whereas last year we met a number of times in different venues.
Strengthening our cooperation with Kazakhstan is an unconditional priority for us. Our cooperation is based on the principles of fraternal friendship, strategic partnership and allied relations.
Our trade continues to grow. You mentioned that trade and economic cooperation grew by 7 percent, but I have a different number – 10 percent, reaching $25.5 billion, according to our estimates. And this is only January through November 2022. We have to check the monthly reports to confirm. At any rate, this is very good considering the uneasy conditions.
Regarding today’s agenda, it is crucial to expedite the creation of production chains in industry, engineering, energy and the transport infrastructure. The mutual complementarity of the economic, industrial and technological potential of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan certainly lays a good foundation for this.
All these issues are closely monitored by our intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, co-chaired by Alexei Overchuk on our side. I would like to thank our Kazakhstani partners for the prompt response and resolution to all current issues.
We have also been working productively within the Eurasian Economic Union. This year we have assumed the chairmanship of all EAEU bodies, whereas next year Kazakhstan will chair the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission. I hope that we will jointly work on all the projects within the EAEU, enhance Eurasian economic integration, and apply its potential primarily to developing our economies and improving the well-being of our people.
It has become a good tradition to hold the first Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting of the year in the hospitable city of Almaty, Kazakhstan and in conjunction with the Almaty Digital Forum. This is further confirmation of the importance of the EAEU’s digital agenda and the need for new high-tech projects for all five member states.
We have a packed programme. Mr Smailov, I suggest we proceed with the discussion of current issues.
