The talks were held as part of Mikhail Mishustin’s working visit to Kazakhstan.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Russia-Kazakhstan talks
Mikhail Mishustin and Alexei Overchuk, left, during Russia-Kazakhstan talks
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov at Russia-Kazakhstan talks
Mikhail Mishustin with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov following Russia-Kazakhstan talks
Russia-Kazakhstan talks
Olzhas Bektenov: Mr Mishustin, friends, I am delighted welcome you in Astana. Welcome.
I would like to note that, thanks to the efforts of our countries’ leaders – President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin –our allied relations and strategic partnership continue to develop dynamically and successfully.
The President of Kazakhstan’s state visit to Russia last November promoted this cooperation even further. We are placing particular importance on the President of Russia’s upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan and are actively preparing for it. We are confident that this visit will further deepen and expand the allied relations between our countries.
Russia has traditionally been one of Kazakhstan’s principal trade and economic partners. Bilateral trade has almost reached $30 billion, and mutual investment continues to grow. Over the past 20 years, Russian businesses have invested more than $28 billion in Kazakhstan’s economy. In turn, Kazakh companies have invested approximately $9 billion in the Russian economy over the same period. Russian enterprises maintain a strong and active presence in Kazakhstan.
More than 22,000 companies with Russian participation account for nearly one-third of all enterprises with foreign capital in Kazakhstan. This represents a substantial level of engagement, which we highly value. We are ready to explore new areas of cooperation and are confident that all necessary conditions exist to support further growth.
Mr Mishustin, I would like to once again assure you that the Government of Kazakhstan stands ready to make every effort to intensify, deepen, and expand our bilateral cooperation.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Mr Bektenov.
First of all, I would like to sincerely thank all our Kazakhstani friends for their traditionally warm welcome extended to our delegation. And, of course, I would like to convey the best wishes of President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
In addition, please allow me to use this opportunity to warmly congratulate you and all citizens of Kazakhstan on the historic adoption of the new Constitution. The results of the referendum clearly demonstrated public support for the course pursued by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev toward building a modern, prosperous state, as well as improving the wellbeing of the people.
Kazakhstan is a strategic partner and ally of Russia. Our relations have stood the test of time and are founded on the principles of friendship, neighbourliness, mutual respect, and consideration for each other’s interests.
Following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Russia last November, important agreements were reached to advance our multifaceted cooperation, the main one being a comprehensive programme of economic cooperation through 2030. Both Russian and Kazakhstani governments remain committed to ensuring the effective and timely implementation of the decisions taken by our leaders.
Russia remains one of Kazakhstan’s leading foreign trade partners. You have mentioned the trade. Russia also holds a prominent position in terms of direct investment in the country’s economy. There is significant potential for launching new joint projects across key sectors, including energy, industry, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy. Our intergovernmental commission is actively engaged in advancing these initiatives.
We place special focus on the cultural and humanitarian track, above all education. The number of Kazakhstani students pursuing higher education in Russia continues to grow. Leading Russian universities have opened their branches in Kazakhstan. In particular, last September, a branch of Dostoevsky Omsk State University was opened in cooperation with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, which I had the opportunity to visit at its inauguration.
In continuation of the bilateral visit, Mr Bektenov, you and I will take part in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, as well as in the Digital Qazaqstan International Forum, which will be take place tomorrow in Shymkent. Russia fully supports the priorities of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union and is ready to work jointly to further strengthen integration for the benefit of our nations.
