MOSCOW, July 02./ITAR-TASS/. The Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on Good-Neighbourliness and Alliance in the 21st Century is adapted to new realities, challenges and threats, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, July 2, after its ratification.

President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant ratification law on June.

The agreement was signed in Yekaterinburg on November 11, 2013.

Under the agreement, Russia and Kazakhstan will coordinate their foreign policy, work closely together on strengthening peace and increasing stability and security in the Eurasian region and around the world, increase their cooperation in combating terrorism, various forms of trans-border organised crime, corruption, drug trafficking, arms trafficking and smuggling, including smuggling of cultural treasures and illegal immigration, and cooperate on ensuring information security.

The agreement also aims to develop mutually advantageous integration cooperation in trade and the economy, investment, science and technology, and expand cooperation in healthcare and the social and humanitarian fields.

“It ushered in the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty signed by the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in Astana on May 29. It reaffirms their obligations within the framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The document is adapted to the new realities, challenges and threats that have emerged in recent years and aims to expand mutually advantageous Russian-Kazakh integration ties.”

“The document determines strategic areas of our cooperation and contains a set of measures aimed at pursuing a coordinated foreign policy, responding to common military threats, improving defence ties, coordinating border guard policy and strengthening cooperation in the protection of the external borders of the two countries,” the ministry said.

In addition, Russia and Kazakhstan will “take joint steps to protect and improve the health of people as part of the coordinated social policy”, the ministry added.

The agreement also formalises the two countries’ obligations to support cultural, enlightening and information work among members of the ethnic communities on each other’s territory and to preserve the spiritual closeness of the two peoples.

Russia and Kazakhstan “will deepen cooperation in the field of information security and the fight against terrorism, transboundary organised crime, corruption and illegal drug trafficking,” the ministry said.