Russia – Kazakhstan: a partnership demanded by life and oriented towards the future
Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper published the article by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin "Russia - Kazakhstan: a partnership demanded by life and oriented towards the future".
On the eve of my upcoming state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, I would like to share, through the pages of the esteemed newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, my vision of the current state and future of relations between our two countries.
I want to note that the cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan is truly allied in nature and continues to develop actively in all directions. Our partnership is rooted in traditions of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual assistance, and it is built on the unshakable principles of equality and respect for each other’s interests. The peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan are united by shared cultural, spiritual, and moral values, a centuries-old history of living within a single state, as well as joint achievements and victories.
The high level of interstate relations is reflected in the close and friendly personal ties that have developed over years of collaboration with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev. We regularly communicate by phone and meet in various formats. We constantly “synchronize our watches” on current bilateral topics, as well as on regional and global issues, and outline new plans for the future. Most importantly, President Tokayev and I are always focused on achieving tangible results and strive to create the most favorable conditions for the confident and continued development of Russian-Kazakh cooperation, for the prosperity of our countries, and for improving the quality of life for our citizens.
Russia is one of Kazakhstan’s largest economic partners. Our countries are strong advocates of Eurasian economic integration and were among the founders of the Eurasian Economic Union. Within this framework, we collaborate on developing common markets for goods, services, and capital, removing regulatory and trade barriers, and expanding joint transport and logistics infrastructure. These efforts enable us to build effective cooperation across a wide range of economic sectors, bringing tangible benefits to both our nations.
The impressive figures of bilateral trade speak for themselves. Last year, trade set a new record, exceeding $28 billion, and from January to September of this year, it surpassed $20 billion. The structure of mutual trade is continuously diversifying, with an increasing share of non-raw materials with high added value. Furthermore, the share of national currencies in mutual settlements is steadily growing, helping to shield commercial operations between the two countries from the negative effects of external factors, including political ones.
Year after year, Russian investments in Kazakhstan’s economy continue to grow, currently amounting to approximately $13 billion. More than 23,000 enterprises with Russian participation operate in the Republic. Companies from both countries are implementing several major joint projects in industrial cooperation and high technologies, establishing new full-cycle industrial production facilities. These initiatives contribute to the comprehensive modernization of both economies and strengthen the technological sovereignty of Russia and Kazakhstan.
Equally constructive is the cooperation between our countries in the oil and gas sector. Thanks to the operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, more than 80 percent of Kazakhstan’s oil exports to foreign markets are transported through Russian territory and its port infrastructure on the Black Sea. Energy companies from both nations are jointly developing hydrocarbon fields, processing energy resources, and expanding the pipeline system.
“Rosatom” provides practical support for projects in Kazakhstan related to the nuclear fuel cycle and the development of the uranium industry. The Russian State Corporation, which possesses unique competencies and technical solutions, often unparalleled globally, is ready to undertake new large-scale projects with its Kazakh partners. Promising opportunities are also emerging for cooperation in alternative and “clean” energy, environmental protection, and combating climate change.
There are also numerous promising sectoral projects and initiatives in other areas of economic cooperation. For example, work is underway to expand the eastern "branch" of the international North-South transport corridor that passes through Kazakhstan and to create the “Baiterek” space rocket complex at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, utilizing Russia’s Soyuz-5 launch vehicle.
The regions of our countries also make a significant contribution to strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation. Nearly all Russian federal subjects have established direct ties with partners in Kazakhstan, jointly implementing projects in energy, industry, transportation, and high-tech sectors. This week, the anniversary 20th Forum of Interregional Cooperation is taking place in Ufa. As is tradition, it has brought together government leaders, lawmakers, representatives of ministries and agencies, businesses, as well as scientific and public circles—all those involved in the practical development of bilateral relations. Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich and I plan to address the forum participants via video link. Additionally, a comprehensive Program for Interregional and Cross-Border Cooperation has been prepared. It includes approximately 150 joint events and projects aimed at fostering favorable conditions for the continued, steady socio-economic growth of the regions of Russia and Kazakhstan and improving the quality of life for their people.
Traditionally, humanitarian exchanges play a vital role in the spectrum of Russian-Kazakh cooperation. Both Russia and Kazakhstan are actively working to expand collaboration in culture, sports, through public and youth organizations, and, of course, in education. Approximately 60,000 Kazakhstani students are currently studying at Russian universities. Branches of many leading Russian universities, including Lomonosov Moscow State University, are successfully operating in Kazakhstan. In the near future, a branch of MGIMO University under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also open in Astana. Among its alumni are many prominent Kazakhstani figures, including Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev.
Russia also supports the construction of new Russian-language schools in Kazakhstan and the improvement of the quality of Russian-language school education. We expect that three more such schools will soon open in Kyzylorda, Taraz, and Turkestan. We are deeply grateful to the leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and personally to Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich, for their thoughtful consideration of the Russian language and for the significant initiative to establish the International Organization for the Russian Language, which will promote it as a means of interstate and interethnic communication.
I would especially like to highlight that next year, the peoples of our countries will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We look forward to welcoming President Tokayev and other Kazakhstani friends to the anniversary celebrations in Moscow on May 9. Both in Russia and Kazakhstan, the heroic deeds of our fathers and grandfathers, who fought shoulder to shoulder against Nazism, are remembered and revered. It is undoubtedly our duty to ensure that future generations also remember the price paid for peace and freedom. This is particularly significant now, as a fairer, multipolar world order is taking shape, one based on equal cooperation and creating new opportunities for sovereign development.
Russia and Kazakhstan are at the forefront of these processes, sharing similar positions on the key role of international law in interstate relations and the necessity of considering the interests of all countries in matters of global security, stability, and sustainable development. Based on these principles, our countries are productively cooperating within multilateral organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The President of Kazakhstan participated in the highly successful October summits of the CIS in Moscow and BRICS in Kazan. One of the important decisions made at the BRICS summit was the establishment of a new category—“partner countries” of the organization—and the agreement on a list of candidate countries for this status. An invitation to join BRICS in this capacity has been extended to Kazakhstan.
Once again, I would like to emphasize that Russia is ready to continue developing diverse, friendly, and allied relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan for the benefit of our peoples. I also wish all citizens of Kazakhstan success, well-being, and prosperity.
