Kazakhstan, Russia Discuss Key Bilateral Moves Ahead of Major Forums

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin has met with Russian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Alexey Borodavkin to discuss preparations for upcoming high-level events and to address key areas of bilateral cooperation.

The meeting centered on the forthcoming 26th Session of the Kazakhstan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation, scheduled for early November, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

This session will be followed by the 21st Kazakhstan-Russia Interregional Cooperation Forum, to be held in Uralsk under the theme “Skilled Trades - Drivers of Economic Growth.”

Both events are expected to culminate in the signing of a wide-ranging package of bilateral agreements covering priority sectors such as trade and investment, industrial development, energy, transport, and logistics.

Trade Relations Under Review

A key focus of the talks was the current state of trade between the two countries. While bilateral trade reached $27.8 billion in 2024, reflecting a 3 per cent increase over the previous year, trade volumes for the first seven months of the current year declined by 7.2 per cent, totaling $14.4 billion.

In response to this downturn, the two sides explored practical measures to stabilize and reinvigorate trade, including addressing trade barriers and enhancing sectoral cooperation.

Russia continues to be one of Kazakhstan’s largest economic partners, and both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in their economic relationship amid changing global and regional dynamics.

Continued High-Level Engagement

The meeting also reflects the broader trajectory of Kazakhstan-Russia relations, marked by consistent high-level dialogue. Recently, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a phone call with President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders discussed key bilateral and regional issues.

As both countries prepare for the upcoming intergovernmental session and cooperation forum, the emphasis remains on deepening strategic ties, fostering economic growth, and promoting regional integration.