Allies in Tough Times: What Binds Kazakhstan and Russia Together.

The relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia exemplifies a strong and unbreakable friendship. Our strategic partnership and alliance are rooted in close historical and cultural ties, as well as a shared responsibility for the future of both nations.

Despite unprecedented global challenges, our countries demonstrate an example of good neighborliness and multifaceted cooperation. The foundation of this cooperation lies in common interests, mutual respect, and a constructive political dialogue at a high level.

With President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we maintain regular contacts characterized by openness, business-like conduct, and mutual respect. This allows us to promptly address emerging issues and strengthen the genuinely friendly nature of our relations. In the past year alone, President Putin and I have held full-scale negotiations four times, met multiple times at international events, and conversed over the phone.

Thanks to the efforts of the governments and business representatives of both countries, trade and economic interaction between Kazakhstan and Russia is confidently gaining momentum.

Currently, there are 23,000 Russian companies operating successfully in Kazakhstan, with 4,000 established just in the past year, indicating the high dynamics of our cooperation.

The volumes of mutual investments are also steadily increasing. In 2023, Russian companies invested over $3 billion in Kazakhstan, while Kazakhstan invested an equal amount in the Russian economy. Our countries are creating all the necessary conditions to support investors, ensuring a comfortable business environment.

Kazakhstan and Russia are engaged in extensive joint activities in energy, industry, transport and logistics, agriculture, and many other sectors. To date, over 90 projects worth more than $18 billion have been implemented, with an additional 49 promising projects currently underway.

Among the most significant projects are the construction of three thermal power plants in Kazakhstan, the modernization of the Ekibastuz GRES, as well as large-scale initiatives for gasification in several regions of our country and increasing the volumes of transit of Russian energy resources to the south and east.

Astana and Moscow are effectively collaborating within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, which has become an important mechanism for integration in the Eurasian space and has gained international authority.

Notably, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Union. As initiators and founders of this union, Kazakhstan and Russia have consistently sought to strengthen comprehensive interaction to enhance competitiveness on a global level. Over the years, the EAEU has proven its effectiveness as one of the key platforms where the integration of the economic policies of member states and the development of mutual trade are successfully realized.

The upcoming state visit of President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to Kazakhstan will be a particularly significant event in the history of Kazakh-Russian relations. This visit carries the highest intergovernmental status, emphasizing the special importance of the strategic partnership between our countries.

During the forthcoming meeting with the President of Russia in Astana, we will discuss a wide range of issues related to cooperation in trade and economics, transport and logistics, fuel and energy, and scientific and technical fields. We also plan to "discuss" further interaction within international organizations and integration structures, as well as exchange views on the global situation, which has unfortunately become critical in its tension.

We in Kazakhstan always remember that our countries are connected by the longest land border in the world. In our view, this border represents eternal friendship and genuine good neighborliness. It is also crucial that approximately 32 million people live in the border regions on both sides. The regions of both countries contribute significantly to strengthening our interstate relations. Therefore, an important point on the agenda of the visit will be the joint participation of the heads of state in the work of the XX Forum of Interregional Cooperation.

I am confident that the upcoming visit will provide a powerful impetus for investment and trade interaction and will facilitate the launch of new joint projects for the benefit of the citizens of both states.

Our countries are preparing to honor the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory in a dignified manner. A careful attitude towards our shared history runs like a thread through the cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia.

In the 20th century, our peoples endured a harsh trial together, defeating fascism during the most terrible war in human history. Kazakhs fought valiantly on the front lines. Kazakhstan became a reliable strategic rear, providing the army with essential military supplies and food. Hundreds of thousands of families found refuge on Kazakh soil during the evacuation.

The phrase "No one is forgotten, nothing is forgotten" for Kazakhs is not just a beautiful slogan but a profound reflection of the eternal national memory of the unprecedented feats of war participants and those who toiled in the rear.

Cultural and humanitarian ties between our countries are actively developing: cultural days, festivals, and exhibitions are regularly held, which receive a positive response from the public.

Last year was marked by large-scale "Russian Seasons" in our country. This year in Moscow, the Days of Astana Culture took place, with the central event being the performance of the opera "Abai" at the Bolshoi Theatre. Kazakhstan will also hold exhibitions in major museums of Russia – the Tretyakov Gallery and the Hermitage.

Kazakhstan's participation in the "Games of the Future" in Kazan and the performance of Russian athletes at the World Nomad Games in Astana highlight the relevance of new formats of humanitarian cooperation. Continuing this relay, Kazakhstan will host the next "Games of the Future" in 2026, initiated by Russia.

The cooperation in the educational sphere is being filled with new content. We plan to open Russian schools in the southern regions of our country. In turn, we expect the establishment of Kazakh schools in the border cities of Russia adjacent to Kazakhstan.

Currently, around 60,000 Kazakh students are studying in Russian educational institutions. Plans are underway to open a branch of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in Astana and a representation of al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Omsk.

In Kazakhstan, over 3,500 schools teach in Pushkin's language, television and radio stations broadcast in Russian, newspapers and magazines are published, and Russian dramatic theatres delight their audiences in almost every region.

Our country has initiated the establishment of the International Organization for the Russian Language under the auspices of the CIS. The organization will focus on developing cooperation among Commonwealth countries regarding the support and promotion of the Russian language. I am convinced that this will contribute to strengthening friendship, good neighborliness, interethnic harmony, mutual understanding, and trust between our peoples.

Kazakhstan and Russia successfully interact on the international stage, advocating for the ideas of multipolarity, peaceful dialogue, and respect for the sovereignty of all states.

Kazakhstan's and Russia's positions resonate on many issues of the global and regional agenda. This fact is reflected in the coordination of our efforts within integration associations and multilateral platforms, including the CIS, CSTO, SCO, and others.

In July of this year, a SCO summit was held in Astana, which resulted in the adoption of the Declaration "On World Unity for a Just World, Harmony, and Development." The document emphasizes that the SCO can contribute to the creation of a new architecture of united and indivisible security in Eurasia.

A significant event of the past year was the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – participants of the CIS, which took place in October in Moscow, where the Commonwealth countries reaffirmed their commitment to developing mutually beneficial, multifaceted cooperation.

This year, Kazakhstan is chairing the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The upcoming summit in Astana will be an important event in strengthening regional security and stability. Our country is focused on comprehensive support for joint efforts aimed at ensuring peace, collective security, and maintaining friendly relations among participating states.

I would also like to highlight the impressive results of the historic BRICS summit in Kazan. This forum became possible thanks to the personal efforts and authority of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the effective chairmanship of Russia in this organization, which represents the interests of over 45 percent of the world's population.

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In conclusion, it can be confidently stated that this year has been highly productive in our bilateral interactions. Moreover, we have a significant backlog for 2025, during which a large number of joint initiatives and projects are set to be implemented. I am confident that all of them will bring tangible benefits to the citizens of both countries.

Kazakhstan and Russia have built truly friendly and, most importantly, trusting relations based on good neighborliness and alliance. I believe that together we can realize the most ambitious plans that correspond to our fundamental interests. As for our country, we have been and remain a reliable strategic partner and ally of Russia during this tumultuous period filled with conflicts and upheavals in history.

An article by Russian President Vladimir Putin titled "Russia – Kazakhstan: a union demanded by life and aimed at the future" was published in the newspaper "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda."

This was reported on the Telegram channel of the Kremlin.

Vladimir Putin will visit Kazakhstan for a state visit on November 27-28 and will participate in a session of the CST