For decades, Kazakhstan and Russia have demonstrated an exemplary alliance and strategic partnership based on mutual respect, trust, and equality. This was stated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his article for Rossiyskaya Gazeta, emphasizing that the eternal friendship between the two peoples is not simply a historical tradition, but a conscious choice that determines the sustainability and dynamism of modern interaction.
The President noted that since independence, Kazakhstan has placed particular importance on relations with Russia, enshrining this in its foreign policy concepts. Back in 1992, the Treaty of Eternal Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance was signed, forming a solid foundation for bilateral relations.
According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, despite global challenges and sanctions pressure, both countries have managed to maintain the momentum of mutual development. The package of agreements signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Kazakhstan opened new horizons for strategic partnership, and upcoming talks in Moscow are aimed at signing a Declaration on elevating relations to a comprehensive alliance.
Russia is one of Kazakhstan's top three foreign trade partners, and Kazakhstan is one of Russia's top five. Trade turnover between the two countries is approaching $30 billion. More than 20,000 Russian-invested enterprises are successfully operating in the republic, and over 170 joint industrial projects worth over $50 billion are being implemented. Joint initiatives in energy, transport, logistics, and high technology are particularly significant.
The President also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. Branches of leading Russian universities, including MGIMO and Moscow State University, are actively operating in Kazakhstan, and a branch of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has opened in Omsk—the first foreign office of a Kazakh university in Russia. Particular attention is paid to the preservation and development of the Russian language, which is an integral part of Kazakhstan's social and cultural life.
Concluding his article, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the allied relations between Kazakhstan and Russia have a decisive influence on processes unfolding in the Eurasian space. He emphasized that, amid global changes, the strong friendship between the two states remains a pillar of stability, security, and creativity for the entire continent.