“Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia is developing in full accordance with the spirit and principles of the treaty on good neighborliness and alliance in the 21st century,” RIA Novosti quotes him.
According to him, economic cooperation is progressively developing between the two states, mutual trade is growing, and various bilateral projects are being implemented.
He also noted that the government of Kazakhstan is determined to deepen and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia in all areas.
“Russia is our key trade and economic partner,” Smailov emphasized, noting that 84 large projects worth almost $23 billion are currently being implemented or are being developed.
Earlier, the Presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a telephone conversation, discussed issues of cooperation in the energy sector.