Azernews.Az

By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Russia and Kazakhstan have lived for centuries in friendship and mutual understanding, and today the relations of the two countries in all spheres of life are reaching a new qualitative level.

The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, arrived in Moscow on April 3. This official visit was his first foreign visit as head of state.

Vladimir Putin, following talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had offered Nur-Sultan the construction of a nuclear power plant, RIA Novosti reports.

“We are proposing to switch to new forms of interaction. I mean first of all the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan using Russian technologies,” the Russian leader said.

The Russian President also noted the active bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector.

Putin expressed gratitude to Tokayev for having arrived in Russia with his first official foreign visit, and stressed that the talks were held in accordance with the traditions established under Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Following the talks, the two leaders adopted a joint statement. Putin noted that the document reflects the intention to strengthen strategic partnership.

In turn, Tokayev promised to continue the strategic course in relations with Russia.

He noted that his visit has a deep symbolic meaning because it emphasizes the special nature of relations between states.

Following the consultations at the highest level, the Joint Statement of Kazakh and Russian Presidents was adopted. In addition, a number of cooperation documents were signed.

Agreement between the Government of Russia and the Government of Kazakhstan in the field of gas supply to the Baikonur complex;

A joint action program between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan in the development of industrial cooperation;

Bilateral cooperation plan between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Ministry of Digital Development, defence and aerospace industry of Kazakhstan in the field of industrial and scientific and technical cooperation.

Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and Russia were established on October 22, 1992.

The trade turnover of Kazakhstan and Russia amounted to $ 17.6 billion in 2018. This is 7.2 percent higher than the previous year.

According to the figures for January-November 2018, Russia ranks first in terms of imports to Kazakhstan. Russia's share among the countries supplying products to Kazakhstan is 37.3 percent.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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