"Kazakhstan is one of the closest allies of Russia, and the relations between the countries can be called unique", Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a big press conference.
According to him, these ties were established by the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, and now they are picked up by the new president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Russian leader described the relations with him as very close and friendly.
Putin expressed the hope that the president and the first president of Kazakhstan would accept his invitation to visit St. Petersburg next week, where the meeting of the EAEU and CSTO members will take place: according to him, preliminary consent has already been given by Nur-Sultan.
The head of state specified that in the field of economics, one of the main tasks is to change the structure of Russian-Kazakh economic ties and work with great effect in areas of high-tech development, such as genetics, medicine and space. Accordingly, he added, Russia will continue to work with Kazakhstan at Baikonur, Kazakhstan should also take part in space programs.
Vladimir Putin drew attention to the deep humanitarian ties between the countries, expressed gratitude for the attentive attitude to the maintenance and development of the Russian language, noted that Kazakhstan is a Russian-speaking country in which the number of schools with the study of the Russian language, as well as branches of Russian universities, is growing, there is a good competition for the places there
The President of the Russian Federation also specified that Kazakhstan is an active member of the CSTO, and military equipment is supplied to the country at domestic Russian prices.
"I very much hope that the pace and quality of our relations will be preserved", concluded Vladimir Putin.
