Russia steps up engagement with Central Asia; hosts Kazakh leader

Russia has stepped up its engagements with its close partners in Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan with President Vladimir Putin hosting the President of Kazakhstan and visiting Bishkek and Dushanbe.

Putin and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the recent visit of Tokayev signed a Declaration on elevating intergovernmental relations between the two countries to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Moscow and Astana signed over ten intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements and memoranda in the fields of politics, security, trade and investment, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.


The two countries will continue to develop common markets within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and coordinate their actions within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and United Nations agreements.

Russia will fully meet its obligations regarding the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. The two countries will continue to create conditions for the unhindered transportation of energy resources, develop cooperation at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, work jointly on the preservation of the Caspian Sea’s water resources, and promote the Russian language as a means of interstate communication across the CIS space.

Tokayev and Putin also held an informal meeting, reaffirming the enduring nature of the strategic partnership and alliance between the two nations.