“Relations with Kazakhstan are developing very successfully,” Putin says
“There is a desire to find a compromise”
At the meeting, which took place several days after Putin’s visit to Kazakhstan, Raushan Kazhibayeva, director of the President's TV and Radio Complex of Kazakhstan, asked the Russian President about the significance of adopting a joint document on the seven foundations of friendship and good-neighborliness between the peoples of the two countries.
Putin noted that relations between Russia and Kazakhstan are developing “very successfully, on an upward trajectory.”
“At the same time, I would like to note right away that our Kazakh friends and partners are not exactly easy partners. We have quite sharp discussions on almost every issue. This concerns financial relations, industrial relations, investment conditions and major projects. But on both sides, there is a desire to find a compromise that would not simply suit both parties, but would contribute to achieving common goals. And the common goal is one: development and improving the well-being of the citizens of Kazakhstan and Russia,” Putin said.
He also noted that the countries have a huge interest in continuing joint projects. Putin recalled that during his visit, the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia launched the construction of the Sirius school in Astana, which will help identify and support talented children.
Putin also thanked President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for strengthening humanitarian ties between the two countries.
“A large number of Kazakhstanis study at Russian universities, and we are very grateful to the President of Kazakhstan for initiating the creation of an international structure to support the Russian language. I believe this is aimed at the future, at preserving our relations and developing them in all areas, including the humanitarian aspect,” the Russian President said.
“Kazakhstan’s resources are in demand around the world”
The Russian President separately addressed energy and the joint construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant.
“I would like to note that Kazakhstan is a country with very rich resources that are extremely necessary and in demand around the world. I mean fuel for power plants, nuclear power plants. We cooperate with Kazakhstan in this area, and we cooperate successfully. I am confident that, relying on its own resource base and developing joint potential, Kazakhstan will achieve great success and solve many challenges in the energy sector. It will diversify its energy resources; as far as I understand, up to 20 percent of the electricity Kazakhstan needs is expected to come from the nuclear power plant,” Putin said.
“If we can help, we will do so” – Putin on the gifted tigers
The Russian President recalled that restoring the tiger population in the region is a completely natural format of cooperation between countries in the region.
“We have done a lot to preserve the population of Far Eastern tigers. By the way, these are the largest tigers in the world; there are none larger. Far Eastern tigers are the biggest. Similar tigers once lived in Kazakhstan as well, and if we can help our friends in any way, in this case our friends in Kazakhstan, we will certainly do so,” Putin noted.
He added that many countries around the world are concerned about preserving the population of these animals, which makes cooperation on this issue a priority.
As a reminder, in late May, the Russian President paid a state visit to Kazakhstan. Following the meetings, the parties discussed prospects for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and implementing joint projects in industry, energy, transport and logistics, the agro-industrial complex and digitalization. As a result of the meetings, the heads of state adopted a Joint Statement on the seven foundations of friendship and good-neighborliness between the peoples of Kazakhstan and Russia.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the visit very successful and expressed confidence that it would go down in the chronicle of the strategic partnership and allied relations between the two countries as an event of special importance. He noted that the signed documents and agreements reached reflect the essence of the Kazakhstan-Russia partnership: combining the traditions of friendship and good-neighborliness with a mutual commitment to common progress in all spheres of public life.