On November 28, 2024, Astana hosted a meeting of the Kazakhstan-Russia Expert Council (KREC) under the theme “Kazakhstan and Russia: Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation.” The event coincided with the state visit of the President of the Russian Federation to Kazakhstan. Participants discussed key aspects of trade and economic relations between the two countries, ways to expand energy sector partnerships, joint initiatives on water resources and climate issues, and prospects for humanitarian cooperation.
The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS) and the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO RAS), with participation from MGIMO University of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Participants included KazISS Director Yerkin Tukumov, IMEMO RAS Director Fyodor Voytolovsky, MGIMO Vice-Rector Artem Malgin, and leading Kazakhstani and Russian experts specializing in Kazakhstan-Russia relations.
In his opening remarks, Yerkin Tukumov highlighted the significant achievements in bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia in economic, trade, and investment sectors.
“Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia reached a record $27 billion in 2023. In the first nine months of 2024, this figure totaled nearly $19.5 billion. Together with Russia, we are implementing 31 joint investment projects worth 5.9 trillion tenge, focusing on petrochemicals, mining, and agriculture,” said the KazISS Director.
He also emphasized the importance of the Kazakhstan-Russia Expert Council as a key platform for dialogue.
“This platform serves as an essential tool for expert dialogue, ensuring that the perspectives and interests of various stakeholders, including regions of Kazakhstan and Russia, are reflected in the bilateral agenda,” Tukumov noted.
IMEMO RAS Director Fyodor Voytolovsky highlighted the nearly 30-year partnership between IMEMO and KazISS.
“This is a long and meaningful period. Our dialogue is based on a willingness to discuss a broad agenda in Kazakhstan-Russia relations openly, without avoiding challenges, difficulties, and complex questions that inevitably arise. We address these issues within the broader international economic and political context in which our relations are evolving,” Voytolovsky said.
He also pointed out the pragmatic foundation of Kazakhstan-Russia relations.
“Both of our presidents think, speak, and act in highly pragmatic terms—economic feasibility, mutually beneficial partnerships, and cooperation. This spirit of focusing on tangible outcomes allows us to unlock the potential of our relationship. By strengthening collaboration, we can achieve cumulative positive effects in trade, energy, labor markets, science and technology, and education,” said the IMEMO Director.
The Kazakhstan-Russia Expert Council reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open dialogue and furthering partnerships to strengthen the foundation of bilateral relations and address shared regional and global challenges.
