Kazakh president meets Russian PM

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and discussed bilateral and regional cooperation in Astana, News Kazakhstan reports.

Nazarbayev emphasized that Medvedev made his first foreign visit to Astana as Prime Minister. He reminded that they introduced common custom fees, formed the Customs Union, Single Economic Space during presidency of Medvedev. Nazarbayev congratulated the Russian PM on becoming the leader of the United Russia Party.

Medvedev noted the strategic partnership of Russia and Kazakhstan. He reminded that a lot has been realized since the 1990s.

Kazakhstan and Russia had a trade turnover of $23.9 billion in 2011. Russia is the main trade partner of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan exported goods worth $7.7 billion and imported  $16.2 billion worth. The trade turnover in Q1 2012 totaled $5 billion, exceeding the same period in 2011 by 1.3%.