Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Kazakhstan from March 25 to 28, for a working visit, as announced by the Russian government's press office.
The first stop of his visit is the capital, Astana, where Russia-Kazakhstan government negotiations are taking place today. Mikhail Mishustin and his counterpart, Olzhas Bektenov, are discussing pressing matters regarding trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. Special focus is being placed on the continued development of joint projects in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, transport infrastructure, education, and culture. Traditionally, Mishustin visits Kazakhstan at the beginning of each year; last year, his three-day visit took place in late January.
EAEU Intergovernmental Council
On March 26 and 27, Mishustin will participate in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Shymkent. The session's agenda covers the expansion of integration and interaction between EAEU member states, with an emphasis on strengthening internal cooperation in key areas, improving customs administration, fostering industrial collaboration, developing integrated information systems, protecting consumer rights, and reviewing the macroeconomic situation within the "five" member nations.
In 2026, Kazakhstan holds the presidency of the EAEU, including the Intergovernmental Council. The upcoming meeting will be the 46th since the union began its work on January 1, 2015, and the first to be held in 2026. The previous session took place on December 11, 2025, in Moscow.
Observer states of the EAEU are also expected to participate in this meeting. A primary focus for the participants will be cooperation in the industrial sector. There are plans to allocate funding from the union's budget for the implementation of joint projects in the agro-industrial complex, as well as to approve the Regulations on the formation and operation of Eurasian technological platforms.
Additionally, the council intends to approve a report from the Eurasian Economic Commission on the results of the 2022–2025 Joint Action Program for consumer protection, alongside an updated document spanning the period through 2030. The Commission will also present its annual review of the macroeconomic situation in the member states, offering proposals to ensure sustainable economic development across the union.
Digital Qazaqstan Forum
During his visit to Kazakhstan, the head of the Russian government will also speak at the Digital Qazaqstan 2026 forum in Shymkent. The theme for the 2026 forum is the "New Industrial Era."
Digital Qazaqstan represents an updated format of the international Digital Almaty forum, which has been one of the republic's key technological events since it began in Almaty in 2018. Since becoming Prime Minister in 2020, Mishustin has traditionally participated in this Kazakhstani digital forum. Moving forward, Digital Qazaqstan will be held annually in different cities to help develop regional digital ecosystems and promote interregional cooperation.
Kazakhstan remains one of Russia’s most vital trading partners. The Russia-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation continues to operate effectively, having held its 26th meeting on November 8, 2025, in Astana. Currently, more than 177 major investment projects with Russian participation are being implemented in Kazakhstan, involving sectors such as automotive manufacturing, agricultural and railway machinery, nuclear energy, and the chemical industry.
Russia and Kazakhstan share the longest continuous land border in the world, which provides a high potential for increasing interaction between the regions of the two countries. To date, 76 out of 89 federal subjects of the Russian Federation have established working relationships with Kazakhstani local administrations. Furthermore, Russian-Kazakhstani cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to flourish, alongside steadily strengthening bilateral ties in the field of education.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from TASS