Geopolitical advantages of integration between RK and Russia

The integration between Kazakhstan and Russia is advantageous for both of them from the geopolitical and geostrategic points of view. This opinion has been expressed today, on 23 January, by Kassymzhomart Tokayev, foreign minister of Kazakhstan, during his speech at an international conference "Kazakhstani-Russian co-operation in the XXI century and challenges of globalisation", taking place in the parliament of RK.

Moreover, K. Tokayev has stressed that Kazakhstan and Russia are precisely the most prepared countries for establishing the Common Economic Space (CES). "There is no alternative to integration and co-operation", - he has stated. In relation with this the head of foreign ministry of RK noted "a similarity between the economic systems and identical approaches towards resolving problems of economic reforms of Kazakhstan and Russia".

At the same time earlier it was reported that the president of RK Nursultan Nazarbayev, speaking at the opening of the Year of Russia in Kazakhstan, had noted a visibly growing integrating role of Russia during the last few years, "based on modern economic and political realities oriented towards the future". "Only extending the framework of our partnership and co-operation we will be able to provide the security of our countries and regions", - N. Nazarbayev observed, speaking about the integration within the EEU and the CES.

It was also reported earlier that during the official visit of Vladimir Putin to Astana as of 9-10 January, 2004, the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan had finally approved the complex measures for creating the Common Economic Space.