Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to discuss the preparations for an upcoming state visit of President Vladimir Putin to Kazakhstan, alongside a broad agenda of bilateral and multilateral issues, during his visit to Astana on Thursday.
During his visit, Lavrov will hold talks with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Murat Nurtleu.
Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, outlined the visit, stating, “The primary focus will be on the preparations for the planned state visit by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the spirit of Russia-Kazakhstan strategic partnership and alliance, the discussions will cover the bilateral agenda and pressing international issues of mutual interest. There will also be an exchange of views on cooperation within integrated platforms, primarily the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).”
As part of the visit, the foreign ministries of Russia and Kazakhstan will sign a plan of activities for cooperation in 2025-2026.
In addition to the negotiations, Lavrov will deliver a lecture at the Diplomatic Institute of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He will also visit the Holy Assumption Cathedral to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Astana and Almaty diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.
Russia-Kazakhstan Cooperation
The foreign ministers of Russia and Kazakhstan maintain regular contacts, both in person and via telephone. Their negotiations are traditionally conducted in a friendly atmosphere, characteristic of Russian-Kazakh relations.
The most recent bilateral meeting between Lavrov and Nurtleu took place on September 26 on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. They discussed current issues in Russian-Kazakh relations, the schedule of upcoming contacts, and cooperation on regional and global platforms. The agenda of the foreign policy chiefs typically includes a wide range of bilateral issues concerning economic, humanitarian, military-technical ties, and regional problems, especially on the Eurasian continent.
Over the years of cooperation, Russia and Kazakhstan have developed a robust legal and treaty framework, which is continuously being refined, with some interdepartmental documents at various stages of preparation. It is likely that during their talks, Lavrov and Nurtleu will focus on further developing this framework.
Putin's Visit
In late October, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS that the visit is “indeed being actively prepared.” He assured that precise dates will be announced in due course. However, according to the protocol of the intergovernmental commission on cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, excerpts of which were published by the KazTAG agency, President Putin might visit the country on a state visit on November 27.
On July 4, 2024, Putin visited Astana to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He also visited Kazakhstan on an official visit on November 9, 2023.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials