The project of a new gas route to China via Kazakhstan was discussed at talks in Astana during Vladimir Putin's state visit to the republic: Kazakh partners confirmed their interest in the pipeline, while discussions with Chinese partners are still pending. This was stated to Izvestia by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who was part of a large delegation that traveled to Kazakhstan together with the Russian head of state. The Russian leader at the end of the talks also stated the interest of Moscow and Astana in gas cooperation. However, the Russian Federation intends to increase gas supplies to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan. President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev called Vladimir Putin's visit historic. The leaders adopted a joint statement on deepening strategic partnership in the new global order.
Tokayev met Putin at the airplane ramp
November 27, Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan: the Russian leader will work in the capital for two days. This is the second visit of the head of the Russian Federation to Astana in 2024, the first one took place relatively recently: in July Putin attended the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
This time the occasion is different: a state visit is the highest status in diplomatic protocol. At the same time, the Russian leader will attend a meeting of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Astana on November 28.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev
The presidential flight arrived at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in the evening local time. Everything was already ready for the meeting: planes painted the sky in the colors of the Russian tricolor, dozens of Kazakhstani military officers were marching. Kazakhstani President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev met Vladimir Putin at the gangway.
The Russian President and members of the delegation were greeted by children with flags of the two countries as a sign of sincere friendship between the peoples. As a memorable souvenir, the Russian president was presented with a special painting: a local artist started painting it right at the moment of the flight of the head of state to Astana.
Both leaders had a hand in creating the work of art: Putin and Tokayev drew a bridge between Russia and Kazakhstan. The painting depicts recognizable symbols of the two countries against the background of a bright sky.
The authorities of the republic did not limit themselves to the bright greeting of the Russian head of state. The central streets of Astana were also decorated with Russian flags and large screens with the portrait of the president were placed there.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev
Immediately after the arrival the leaders decided to drive around Astana in Aurus and then headed to the residence of Kasym-Jomart Tokayev Akorda. Here the heads of state were welcomed by a guard of honor and a solemn orchestra, which first performed the anthem of Russia and then of Kazakhstan.
The main events of the state visit also took place in the residence, which began with negotiations between the two leaders in a small group, which lasted almost two hours.
"Kasym-Jomart Kemelevich, we meet with you regularly and somehow got used to the working environment. Such a solemn entourage is somewhat unusual. Thank you very much," Vladimir Putin shared his impression.
The Kazakh leader said that the state visit of the Russian leader "has become a truly historic event, marking an important milestone in the development of Kazakh-Russian relations".
The same day, Putin invited Tokayev to make a return visit to Russia. The invitation was accepted. In addition, the leaders will see each other at an informal pre-New Year's meeting in St. Petersburg on the CIS side in late December and at the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Statements by the leaders on strategic partnership
In the open part of the enlarged talks, the leaders limited themselves to statements about the strong relations between the countries and the importance of strategic partnership. At the same time, according to Vladimir Putin, the interaction is expanding and becoming more interesting and mutually beneficial.
Moscow and Astana have the desire to seek solutions to complex issues, and they are found, he assured. Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, in turn, said that Kazakhstan was and remains a reliable ally and partner of Russia. "There are no serious problems between our states," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev during talks in Astana.
Proof of a successful and comprehensive partnership can be seen in the 20 documents that Moscow and Astana signed following talks between Putin and Tokayev on various topics. At the same time, the joint statement on deepening strategic partnership in the new global order, signed by the leaders of the states, can be considered the main one.
"The signed joint statement sets new ambitious tasks to further deepen the strategic partnership of our two countries. Their realization will be facilitated by numerous intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents, covering the most diverse spheres of cooperation - from energy and transport to healthcare and justice," Vladimir Putin said.
Also approved were the program of interregional and cross-border cooperation for 2024-2028 and the action plan for its implementation, agreements on cooperation in health care, tourism, development of railroads. In addition, signed a cooperation agreement between the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan and a number of other documents.
Economic prospects of Russia and Kazakhstan
The talks centered on economic issues, as Russia is one of Kazakhstan's most important partners and ranks second after China in terms of trade turnover in the country's foreign trade - 17.1%. In 2023, the trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan broke a new record and came close to $30 billion, and in the first nine months of 2024 this figure amounted to $20.6 billion, the share of national currencies in mutual settlements is almost 90%, Putin said.
"For the first time in the history of bilateral relations, Kazakhstan has become one of Russia's five largest trading partners, which undoubtedly testifies to the presence of a strong and high potential of our cooperation. I am convinced that if this positive dynamics is maintained, we will be able to surpass the $30 billion mark in mutual trade in the next couple of years," Kasym-Jomart Tokayev said after the talks.
Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev during talks in Astana
According to him, significant progress has been made in the industrial sphere. 93 joint projects worth more than $18 billion have been launched, and 49 projects with a total investment volume of almost $30 billion are being implemented. Given that Russia and Kazakhstan have the world's longest land border (7598.8 km), the countries give priority to interregional and cross-border ties. By the way, on the same day the leaders took part in the plenary session of the XX Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, which is taking place these days in Ufa. The Russian head of state promised all possible support for joint projects of the regions of the two countries. According to the Russian President, the regional authorities of Russia and Kazakhstan help to build a common transport infrastructure and optimize logistics corridors.
- If you look at the statistics of the Eurasian Development Bank, 80% of Kazakhstan's GDP is formed in border zones and 20% of Russian GDP. From this point of view, we have a lot of elements of interaction at the regional level in the border zone. Therefore, the presidents' participation in the plenary session points to the importance of finding and establishing ties between institutions, creating tools to address the issues of small and medium-sized businesses, for example, how to cross borders, how to coordinate the standards of transportation on the other side, and so on," Stanislav Pritchin, a senior researcher at the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of IMEMO RAS, told Izvestia.
Chelyabinsk Customs controls the movement of goods to the Republic of Kazakhstan
However, despite such economic indicators, today the countries have maximum difficulty in cooperation in the banking sector due to the Western sanctions policy, he added.
Gasification of the republic and transit of Russian gas
Large-scale initiatives on gasification of a number of regions of Kazakhstan, increasing the volume of transit of Russian energy resources in the southern and eastern direction, construction and modernization of large energy facilities in the republic deserve special attention.
Vladimir Putin, in particular, noted the uninterrupted operation of Gazprom, which supplies Russian gas to Kazakh consumers. In addition, he announced Russia's intention to increase supplies of blue fuel to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan. In the closed part of the talks, the sides touched on a new route for gas exports to China via Kazakhstan.
- This was discussed now as a project, as it concerns solutions to several issues at once. Gas pipeline with a capacity of 45 billion cubic meters. m of gas that goes through Kazakhstan: 10 billion to ensure gasification of the northeastern regions of Kazakhstan, and 35 billion cubic meters of gas to Chinese consumers. Since this is a trilateral document, it should be discussed with Chinese partners as well. They should present their decisions on the implementation of this project. The Kazakhs said that they are interested in this project, and in order to ensure transit and provide part of the northeast, they will be able to implement their part [of the project work]. The project is still being discussed with Chinese partners," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told Izvestia.
PJSC Gazprom's gas distribution station
As of today, gas transportation from Russia to China is carried out through the Power of Siberia pipeline, recalled Alexander Spiridonov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Industry and Trade. In the near future, according to plans, it should reach its maximum capacity of almost 40 billion cubic meters per year, the deputy added.
- This is about a quarter of China's total demand today. Accordingly, there are plans to build an additional pipeline. The first option was to build the second string of the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline. But now there is an unresolved issue of its passage through the territory of Mongolia. This may be due to the current geopolitical situation. Therefore, the option of laying the pipeline through Kazakhstan is also quite possible," the parliamentarian told Izvestia.
In August 2024, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, citing a former high-ranking Mongolian official, reported that the future of the Power of Siberia-2 trunk pipeline is hazy, as Ulaanbaatar has excluded the project from its long-term development plan until 2028.
Plans for education development
According to the Russian president, the talks also focused on humanitarian cooperation, particularly in the field of education. Today, about 60,000 Kazakhstani students study at Russian universities. And branches of many Russian universities, including Lomonosov Moscow State University, are working quite successfully in the republic. A branch of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation will soon be operating in Astana.
On the same day, Putin and Tokayev participated in the opening of a branch of the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi in Omsk University named after Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky.
Vladimir Putin in Astana noted the contribution of the Kazakh leadership in support of the Russian language. Against this background, he announced the opening of three more Russian-language schools in the republic.
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