Putin describes first talks with new Kazakh president as meaningful

MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. Wednesday’s talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proved to be meaningful, Russian leader Vladimir Putin told reporters. "The talks took place in a positive and business-like atmosphere, in full accordance with the traditions that we developed over the years of fruitful cooperation with the founder of the Kazakh state and its first President Nursultan Nazarbayev," Putin said. He thanked Tokayev for choosing Russia as a destination for his first foreign visit. The Russian leader pointed out that at his previous positions, Tokayev "maintained close contacts with his Russian colleagues." "We have no doubts that as president of Kazakhstan, he will pay constant attention to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and alliance relations between our countries," Putin pointed out. He added that the statement the two leaders signed on Wednesday "reflects our mutual intentions to boost comprehensive partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan and outlines serious and demanding tasks for the future." "Russia and Kazakhstan have vast experience of cooperation in various areas, there are more than 450 interstate and intergovernmental documents," Putin said, highlighting the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation. In his view, this document "makes it possible for us to look to the future with confidence, make plans to move forward and boost cooperation in various fields." The Russian president emphasized that apart from bilateral relations, the parties had also discussed regional and global issues, as well as integration processes in Eurasia. Read more