Tokayev meets Putin on sidelines of SCO summit

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin used their meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit to review a wide-ranging partnership that both described as developing steadily.

Tokayev linked Kazakhstan’s constitutional reform to national interests and citizens’ needs. He said the country would not pursue “reforms for the sake of reforms” and described Putin’s state visit to Astana in May as historic. Kazakhstan’s government is now working to implement the agreements reached during that visit.

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The modernization of Kazakhstan will continue in accordance with our national interests. Reforms for the sake of reforms must never be carried out. First and foremost, we must proceed from the interests of our citizens.

The Kazakh president also said trade was growing compared with the previous year and that Russia would remain Kazakhstan’s main investment and trade partner. The two leaders discussed trade, economic and investment cooperation, along with joint projects in areas of mutual interest.

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I believe Russia will remain our main investment and trade partner. I fully support this process.

Putin said bilateral relations were advancing in almost every area. He pointed to stronger trade figures, active work by the intergovernmental commission and the implementation of existing agreements. He also highlighted humanitarian ties, saying 60,000 students from Kazakhstan study at Russian universities and that a branch of a leading Kazakh university had recently opened in Omsk.

The presidents additionally exchanged views on current international and regional issues. Their comments presented the relationship as broad, covering major projects, day-to-day matters and educational links.

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Last year, we had solid trade figures, and this year they have grown further.