The delegation of Kazakhstan, led by the country’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dauren Abaev, took part in the VIII Eastern Economic Forum. Photo: Press service of the President of the Russian Federation
The delegation of Kazakhstan, led by the country’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dauren Abaev, took part in the VIII Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. Shortly before this, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation met with Advisor to the President of Russia Anton Kobyakov, who heads the organizing committee of the forum. Commenting on the meeting, Dauren Abaev said: “We have many issues to discuss: gas, logistics, transport, energy.”
In turn, the assistant to the Russian President emphasized that Russian-Kazakh relations are in the nature of a strategic partnership and are progressively developing in the spirit of good neighborliness. “Economic ties are being strengthened and mutually beneficial innovative projects are being implemented. We see prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the context of the implementation of the New Silk Road transport corridor project,” said Anton Kobyakov. – We also consider it necessary to further develop transport and logistics interaction within the framework of the EAEU integration association. An important role in the work on harmonizing the legislation of the two countries in this area is played by the Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
During the meeting, Kobyakov and Abayev discussed the development of trade and economic ties, the participation of representatives of Kazakhstan in major business events in Russia, and touched upon aspects of interaction between the two countries at the Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, 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 hub”
The annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) serves as a platform for meetings of political leaders, entrepreneurs and representatives of public organizations from the Far Eastern states and Russia, as well as countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This year the forum was called “Towards Cooperation, Peace and Prosperity”; in addition to representatives of Kazakhstan, delegations from Belarus, Vietnam, India, China, North Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and the Philippines took part in it.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has been participating in the EEF 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 located 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 looking for new markets for its products, developing integration with China, South Korea and other countries in the region.
Speaking at a meeting of the VI Eastern Economic Forum in 2021, the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted: “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 partners in Asia.” The priority direction is the construction of an 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 country’s GDP structure should reach 9% over the next three years.
This year, one of the sessions of the forum was called “EAEU and BRICS: role in the formation of a new multipolar world.” Kazakhstan’s interest in this topic is obvious, especially considering that this EAEU member country is on the list of more than 20 states that have expressed a desire to join BRICS.
Kazakhstan – Yakutia: tenfold increase in trade turnover
On the sidelines of the forum in Vladivostok, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia Dauren Abaev met with the head of Yakutia Aisen Nikolaev, who focused on joint work by increasing exports from Yakutia to Kazakhstan of fuel and energy goods, 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 of this year, during which he met with the President of Kazakhstan.
The minister noted that trade turnover between the republics is growing rapidly. “At the end of last year, trade turnover amounted to more than $80 million, which is almost a tenfold increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. We are ready to further increase trade with Kazakhstan,” added Gavriil Kirillin.
In addition, preparations for the days of Yakutia in Kazakhstan in 2024 were discussed at the meeting. And currently in Kazakhstan there are Days of Yakut Cinema and tours of the State Circus of Yakutia.
“In addition, we looked at interaction in the scientific and educational sphere – this is the exchange of students and teachers. The Kazakh side is interested in sending students to Russia, including to our institutions – the North-Eastern Federal University and the Arctic State Agrotechnological University,” said the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of Yakutia.
The Kazakh guests also toured the Amur Region pavilion 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 organizing business missions of Amur entrepreneurs to visit the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As noted by the Kazakh observer, head of the media center of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan in Astana, Ravil Valeev, in general, the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the EEF and in the Asia-Pacific region are related to the 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.
