Customs Partner

The relations linking Russia and Kazakhstan are long term and stable. HE President Nursultan Nazarbayev and I see each other frequently and use each summit, each meeting, as a chance to exchange views on the development of our bilateral relations. This allows us to maintain their dynamics.

HE President Nazarbayev’s wealth of political experience and dynamic and fruitful work as President of Kazakhstan have helped to bring Kazakhstan impressive success in its socio-economic development and a good reputation on the international stage.

I especially note His Excellency’s contribution to advancing the multifaceted strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. I highly value the warm ties that we have, for they form a solid foundation for our trusting and constructive discussions and help us to make decisions on the most important issues before us on the bilateral and international agendas. I am sure that our intensive and productive political dialogue will continue to play a key part in consistently developing all aspects of the alliance between our countries and carrying out major projects in the various fields of mutual interest.

In December 2010 we signed the Joint Action Plan for 2011-2012, which will allow Russia and Kazakhstan to work as planned—in other words, to prepare a full list of projects that we will work on ahead of time, and accordingly, provide those projects with the necessary financing and give corresponding instructions to the departments that need to be involved. So, I feel that in this regard we not only have close, strategic, partnership relations, but also strong high-tech relations as well, because these relations are based on good planning.

In 2011 alone, we are planning to meet at least 10 times in bilateral and multilateral formats. We can, by right, be satisfied with what we achieved in 2010. First and foremost, I am referring to the Customs Union and paving the way toward the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union. This is truly a qualitative step forward along the path to integration. This year promises to be filled with equally significant events.

HE President Nazarbayev also earned deserved recognition as a committed supporter of integration in the Eurasian region. He has been very instrumental in the successful practical implementation of projects to establish the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. I hope that our close coordination of cooperation policy within the different regional groupings, including the CIS, CSTO, EurAsEC, and the SCO will help these organizations to continue to develop and improve in the interests of peace and stability in Eurasia.

We did not make integration our goal merely because we want to broaden our contacts or to have more international officials. Integration is a way to improve the quality of life for the citizens of our countries. The only way to build a stable foundation for future prosperity is by following along the path of integration and promoting a modern form of integration, such as in Europe. However, we still have a great deal to do, and I think here we have an opportunity to discuss what could be done and how to move forward. This is especially true since these processes have become a very stable trend over the past few years. President Nazerbayev has always been a supporter of integration, a supporter of Eurasian cooperation, and has consistently upheld this position. We have made significant progress in the past few years, and we are very pleased about that.

I want to say that we have great respect for His Excellency as our friend, a friend of the Russian Federation, and as a person who has made an enormous contribution to the development of friendly relations between the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. We wish Kazakhstan every success. I hope everything will go well and the two of us will continue to communicate in the course of 2011, during our numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings.