Russia, Kazakhstan have great potential for launching new joint projects in various sectors - PM
ASTANA. March 25 (Interfax) - Russia and Kazakhstan have great potential for launching new joint projects, including in energy, industry, transport, and agriculture, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said.
"Russia is one of Kazakhstan's leading foreign trade partners. You mentioned bilateral trade, and we hold a leading position in terms of direct investment in your national economy. I believe there is great potential for launching new joint projects in various sectors of the economy - energy, industry, transport infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy," Mishustin said at talks with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in Astana on Wednesday.
The bilateral intergovernmental commission is actively working to address these issues, he said.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mishustin conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin and congratulated Prime Minister Bektenov and all Kazakh citizens on the historic event of the adoption of the new constitution.
"The referendum outcome proved that the people of Kazakhstan back the policy of Kazakh President, Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to build a modern and prosperous state and improve your citizens' welfare," Mishustin said.
Kazakhstan is a strategic partner and ally for Russia, he added. "Our relations have been tested by time and are based on the principles of friendship, good-neighborliness, mutual respect, and consideration of each other's interests," Mishustin said.
Speaking about bilateral cooperation, the Russian prime minister said that the parties focus on the humanitarian track, primarily in education. "The number of Kazakh citizens who receive higher education in Russia is growing every year," he said, noting that Kazakhstan has branches of leading Russian universities.
For his part, Bektenov said that Kazakhstan is willing to consider promoting new areas of cooperation with Russia.
"We are willing to explore new areas of our cooperation, and I am confident that there are all the necessary conditions for this. The government is prepared to make every effort to intensify, deepen, and expand our cooperation," Bektenov said.
He also said that Kazakhstan is preparing for and paying "special attention to Russian President Putin's upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan."
"We are sure that this visit will help deepen and enhance the allied relations between our countries," Bektenov said.
"Russia is traditionally one of our country's main trade and economic partners. The bilateral trade between our countries has reached nearly $30 billion. The mutual investment flow is growing. Over the past 20 years, Russian businesses have invested over $28 billion in the Kazakh economy, while Kazakh businesses have invested around $9 billion in the Russian economy over the same period. Russian businesses are actively operating in Kazakhstan, where there are over 22,000 companies with Russia's participation, accounting for almost a third of all companies with foreign capital. This demonstrates the significant presence of Russian businesses in Kazakhstan, which we are pleased to see," Bektenov said.
