The delegation of Kazakhstan, led by his country’s ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dauren Abaev, participated in the VIII Eastern Economic Forum. Photo: Press service of the President of the Russian Federation.
The delegation of Kazakhstan, led by his country’s ambassador to the Russian Federation, Dauren Abaev, participated in the VIII Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Shortly before, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation met with the Advisor to the President of Russia, Anton Kobiakov, who heads the organizing committee of the forum. Dauren Abaev commented on the meeting: “We have many topics to discuss: gas, logistics, transport, energy.”
In turn, the assistant to the Russian President stressed that Russian-Kazakh relations have the character of a strategic partnership and are progressively developing in a spirit of good neighborliness. “Economic ties are strengthened and mutually beneficial innovative projects are implemented. We see prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the context of the implementation of the New Silk Road transport corridor project,” Anton Kobiakov noted. – We also consider it necessary to continue developing the interaction between transport and logistics within the framework of the EAEU integration partnership. “The Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan plays an important role in the work on harmonizing the legislation of the two countries in this area.”
During the meeting, Kobyakov and Abayev discussed the development of trade and economic ties, the participation of representatives of Kazakhstan in important business events in Russia and touched on aspects of interaction between the two countries at the Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum. which will be held this year in Kostanay. The negotiators noted the need to expand cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan on the environmental agenda, in particular, to make joint efforts to preserve rare bird species.
“Eurasian transit center”
The annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) serves as a platform for meetings of political leaders, businessmen and representatives of public organizations from the Far Eastern states and Russia, as well as from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This year the forum was called “Towards Cooperation, Peace and Prosperity” and, in addition to representatives from Kazakhstan, delegations from Belarus, Vietnam, India, China, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines participated.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has been participating in the FEE since 2019. The forum has become one of the priority international platforms for the country due to many factors. One of them is geographical location. Kazakhstan is situated at the intersection of major trade routes from East Asia to Europe and the Middle East, and from Russia to the countries of South Asia. In addition, Kazakhstan has rich natural resources and is actively seeking new markets for its products, developing integration with China, South Korea and other countries in the region.
Speaking at a meeting of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum in 2021, the country’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said: “Kazakhstan, as the largest economy in Central Asia, plans to strengthen its presence in this region. “This approach reflects the essence of our country’s relations with its partners in Asia.” The priority direction is the construction of effective transport infrastructure, taking into account the potential and capabilities of Kazakhstan in the development of transit hubs, including in the context of connecting national plans with the activities of the EAEU and the Chinese global Belt and Road initiative. .
The President of Kazakhstan believes that his country should strengthen its position as a key transit hub in Eurasia and eventually become a full-fledged transport and logistics power, while the share of the transport and logistics sector in the structure of the country’s GDP should reach 9% in the next three years.
This year one of the forum sessions was titled “The EAEU and the BRICS: the role in the formation of a new multipolar world”. Kazakhstan’s interest in this issue is evident, especially considering that this EAEU member country is on the list of more than 20 states that have expressed their desire to join the BRICS.
Kazakhstan – Yakutia: Trade turnover increases tenfold
On the sidelines of the forum in Vladivostok, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia Dauren Abaev met with the head of Yakutia Aisen Nikolaev, who focused on joint work to increase exports from Yakutia to Kazakhstan of fuels, energy products, jewelry , organic food, as well as imports from Kazakhstan various equipment and food.
According to the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of the Russian region, Gavriil Kirillin, the parties also discussed the results of the visit of the head of Yakutia to Kazakhstan in January this year, during which he met with the President of Kazakhstan.
The minister noted that the trade turnover between the republics is growing rapidly. “At the end of last year, commercial turnover amounted to more than $80 million, which is almost ten times more than in the pre-pandemic period. We are ready to continue increasing trade with Kazakhstan,” Gavriil Kirillin added.
In addition, the meeting discussed preparations for the Yakut Days in Kazakhstan in 2024. And currently, Yakut Film Days and guided tours of the Yakut State Circus are being held in Kazakhstan.
“In addition, we analyze the interaction in the scientific and educational field: the exchange of students and teachers. The Kazakh side is interested in sending students to Russia, including our institutions: the Northeastern Federal University and the Arctic State Agrotechnical University,” said the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of Yakutia.
The Kazakh guests also visited the pavilion of the Amur region presented at the EEF and discussed the prospects for cooperation with this region of Russia in the trade, economic, agricultural and humanitarian spheres. An agreement was reached on the organization of trade missions of Amur businessmen to visit the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As noted by the Kazakh observer, head of the press center of the Kazakhstan People’s Assembly in Astana, Ravil Valeev, in general the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the EEF and in the Asia-Pacific region are related to development of economic relations, strengthening security and stability, cultural exchange and tourism. Currently, Kazakhstan seeks to actively participate in the development of this dynamic region and cooperate with other countries to achieve common goals and interests, which can be facilitated by the work of the official delegation on the sidelines of the forum in Vladivostok.
