ISTANBUL 

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Russia values its “brotherly and allied” relations with Kazakhstan as he met his Kazakh counterpart Olzhas Bektenov in Moscow, highlighting growing cooperation across trade, energy, and infrastructure.

“We sincerely value our brotherly, good-neighborly, allied relations,” Mishustin said, underlining the rapid growth in joint energy and technology projects and the significance of regional collaboration.

Bektenov called Russia one of Kazakhstan’s main economic partners, adding that bilateral trade was nearing $30 billion.

“Trust-based relations between our leaders play a decisive role,” he said, adding that the 2023 state visit by President Vladimir Putin to Astana provided a powerful impetus to deepen ties.

He also emphasized Kazakhstan’s growing investment in Russia and highlighted over 23,000 active companies in Kazakhstan with Russian capital, describing it as a sign of “deep economic interconnectedness.”

Plans to jointly commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II on May 9 and the upcoming Intervision music contest were also discussed, with both leaders pointing to cultural diplomacy as a pillar of unity.

The sides also prepared for the upcoming 21st Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Forum in the Kazakh city of Uralsk, seen as a key platform to solve practical bilateral issues and expand cooperation.