Russian President Vladimir Putin, welcoming Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Omsk, said relations between the two countries are developing successfully and are strategic in nature not in words but in deeds. This is evidenced by the growth in trade, which reached nearly $28 billion last year and increased by more than 4% in the first five months of this year, according to infohub.kz.
Putin also noted that 70 projects involving Russian enterprises and businesses worth a total of $30 billion are being implemented in Kazakhstan. Russia is the largest investor in the Kazakh economy in such areas as metallurgy, machinery, energy, pharmaceuticals, and others.
The Russian leader paid special attention to cultural and humanitarian cooperation, emphasizing the importance of education. Thousands of Kazakh citizens study at Russian universities, and a branch of a Kazakh state university has been opened in Omsk. Putin thanked Kazakhstan for providing 100 state scholarships for Russian students, who study on a tuition-free basis.
Putin also noted the active interaction between the two countries on the international stage, including within the framework of Russia's chairmanship of the CSTO and Kazakhstan's in the EAEU. Addressing Tokayev, he recalled their shared history: the father of the current president of Kazakhstan was treated in Omsk after being wounded in the winter of 1945. "This once again underscores that we attach great importance to the memory of the Great Patriotic War and the contribution of our peoples to the victory over Nazism," Putin said.
During the talks, the heads of state discussed prospects for strengthening trade and economic ties and implementing joint projects in energy, transport, logistics, space, and agriculture, and exchanged views on topical issues of the international and regional agenda.