ASTANA, July 3 (DOLPHIN) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Kazakhstan in November. The two leaders met at the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Wednesday, where they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between their countries.
I believe this is simply necessary to maintain the pace of cooperation between our countries. I hope to see you again, this time on a state visit to our country,” Tokayev said during the meeting.
In response, Putin expressed his gratitude for the invitation and agreed to make the trip in connection with the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO. The CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance that focuses on regional security and stability. It was established in 1992 and includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as member states.
I would like to express my gratitude to you for the invitation to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan. Of course, it is most rational to do it in connection with the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Thank you for the invitation, I certainly accept it,” Putin replied.
The Kazakh leader also took the opportunity to praise Putin’s role in making stronger the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO. The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 that aims to maintain peace, stability, and security in the region through political, economic, and cultural cooperation among its member states, which include Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.
I cannot but mention Russia’s enormous contribution to strengthening the potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In this regard, in the capacity of the [SCO] Chair, I would like to express my gratitude to you,” Tokayev said during their meeting.
This upcoming visit by Putin is expected to further deepen the relationship between Russia and Kazakhstan, which have enjoyed strong ties since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The two countries share a border and are both members of various international organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS.
The invitation for Putin to visit Kazakhstan in November also highlights the importance of maintaining close ties with Russia, which remains an influential player in global politics. It is hoped that this state visit will further strengthen the partnership between the two countries and contribute to greater regional stability and security.