On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to Kazakhstan.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called Putin’s visit a historic event that marks an important milestone in the development of Kazakh-Russian relations.
“For Kazakhstan, Russia is a strategic partner and a reliable ally. We are united by unbreakable bonds of friendship, centuries-old good neighborliness and a common history. Based on these enduring values, our states have built meaningful relationships that look to the future. Kazakh-Russian cooperation has reached an unprecedented height, covering almost all key areas of interaction,” Tokayev said.
During the visit, a package of documents was signed, including the Joint Statement by the President of the Russian Federation and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the enhancement of strategic partnership within the new world order.
Among the signed documents is the Program for Interregional and Cross-Border Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan for 2024–2028. Additionally, intergovernmental agreements were signed on collaboration in the development of railway transport and infrastructure, motorways, as well as road and railway checkpoints along the state border between Russia and Kazakhstan. Also, documents were signed regarding trade and economic collaboration in the supply of oil and petroleum products to Kazakhstan.
Tokayev and Putin took part, via video link, in a plenary session of the 20th Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum held in the Russian city of Ufa.
President Tokayev emphasized the steady growth of Kazakh-Russian trade, which last year reached an impressive $27 billion, with Russia accounting for almost 20 percent of Kazakhstan’s foreign trade. The total volume of direct Russian investment in Kazakhstan has approached $25 billion. There are 23,000 Russian and joint venture companies operating in Kazakhstan, which makes almost half of all enterprises with foreign participation in Kazakhstan.
Tokayev stressed the importance of the transport and logistics infrastructure across the Eurasian region. “This matter holds strategic significance for both Kazakhstan and Russia. Consequently, by 2030, we [Kazakhstan] aim to repair 11,000 km and build over 5,000 km of new railways… A critical priority for us is establishing a network of modern multimodal centers and dry ports internationally. A successful example of such cooperation is the construction of a new transport and logistics center at Selyatino station in the Russian Federation. At the opposite end of the transit corridor, cargo will be amassed at the recently completed Kazakh terminal in the Chinese city of Xi’an. Thus, in effect, pivotal nodes of the unified cargo transit system along the China-Kazakhstan-Russia route are being established.”
Tokayev also emphasized the importance of the development of the North-South transport corridor. “Last year, over two million tons of cargo traversed this route, yet we consider it entirely feasible to increase this volume to 20 million tons per annum. As a supportive measure, Kazakhstan has introduced a 50 percent reduction on cargo transit fees along this corridor this year,” the Kazakh president said.
In his turn, Putin mentioned that the eastern route of the North–South Transport Corridor, extending from Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean coast, traverses Kazakhstan, and since the beginning of this year, over one million tons of cargo have been transported via this corridor.
Photo: akorda.kz
