MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. Russia and Kazakhstan share common past, but their mutual cooperation is future-oriented as the two states actively develop trade, energy and humanitarian cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, published on Wednesday.
The interview was devoted to bilateral and Eurasian matters. Issues related to Ukraine, the United States and the Middle East were not raised.
Below are the key statements that Putin made in his interview.
Forthcoming agreements and trade
The Russian leader’s visit to Kazakhstan is expected to result in "the signing of a solid package of interregional agreements and, most importantly, commercial contracts."
Last year, bilateral trade between the two neighbors "increased by 10.2% to reach a $28.2-billion record, and in this January - August it grew 7.6% more to equal to $18.9 billion."
Russia is one of the major investors in the economy of Kazakhstan. The Russian investment accumulated in Kazakhstan equals to about USD 17 bn. Some 6,000 enterprises with Russian participation operate in the Republic.
Energy cooperation
In accordance with the Roadmap for cooperation in the gas sector, signed by Russian energy giant Gazprom and the government of Kazakhstan on January 18, 2023, Russia is ready to assist in gasification of Kazakhstan’s northern and eastern regions. "Currently, various options are being worked out to debug the relevant gas transmission infrastructure."
The government of Kazakhstan is also examining the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in the country and the "Rosatom State Corporation is ready to develop a relevant project using the most advanced technologies in compliance with the highest environmental requirements and safety standards."
Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in green energy is also rather relevant as the two nations plan to reach zero greenhouse gas emission by 2060. "To do that we need to modernize energy and industrial infrastructures, make greater use of alternative and renewable energy sources and natural gas during the transition period."
Relations with Tokayev
In Putin’s words, "He [Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev] and I have developed a truly friendly, close relationship. It’s not surprising. We are people of the same generation and feel equally responsible for our countries."
The two leaders regularly call each other by phone and meet in different formats to "check our watches" both on the bilateral agenda and on issues of multilateral cooperation. "Such personal contacts fully reflect the high level of Russian-Kazakh relations."
Regional ties
Inter-regional contacts between the two states, including on the border, form one of the pillars of bilateral relations.
"For example, 76 of 89 subjects of the Russian Federation are developing effective cooperation with the akimates [administrative regions] of Kazakhstan. General public and business community of the two countries actively promote these positive processes."
Common past and Russian language
"Shared history, multi-century good-neighborliness and cooperation, pride for the feat of ancestors who fought against Nazism contributing to the Victory," bring the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan even closer.
"Russian language - is our common heritage and competitive advantage, but most importantly it’s a significant factor strengthening Russian-Kazakh friendship," Putin said, adding that he appreciates President Tokayev’s initiative "to create an International Organization for the Russian language." In his opinion, "this will serve as a powerful factor of further rapprochement of our peoples."
"Scientific and academic contracts are expanding. In 2022 more than 60 thousand students from Kazakhstan have studied in Russian institutes of higher education," he said. "The leader of Russian higher education in Kazakhstan is the branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University."
"We are ready to apply and develop in the Republic of Kazakhstan the experience in building schools and developing other types of educational activities."
Eurasian integration and new world order
A prevailing trend at the current stage of world development at this point is the development of a new and fairer world order "based on the primacy of international law." It is important to establish "a common peaceful, stable and prosperous Eurasian space." To that end, every nation’s sovereign right for its own development model should be respected.
"The SCO attracts with its focus on creation and multifaceted cooperation, mutual consideration of interests, equality, openness, and respect for cultural and civilizational diversity. This compares favourably our organization with the ‘narrow-block’ structures with the small number of chosen participants that are promoted by the Western countries."
Russia has "great expectations for the SCO," which brings together 26 states, since this structure "has a strong consolidated political and economic capacity."
Another quite representative regional format that is the Community of Independent States to be an integral part of the efforts aimed at supporting peace and stability in the entire Eurasian space.
As for the economic stability, the Eurasian Economic Union has a crucial role to play in this area and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - in the area of defense and security.
"The events of January 2022, when the CSTO had significantly contributed to maintaining the internal political stability in Kazakhstan, have illustrated the efficiency of addressing the challenges faced by the Organization, in particular, ensuring its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Member States."
"It is evident that our interaction, including in transport, logistics, energy and humanitarian affairs, has expanded beyond the framework of bilateral cooperation. It has the potential to further thrive through the collective endeavor of all parties involved."