OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2010. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, paid a working visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan from February 21-22.

In Astana Lavrov was received by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, and held thorough talks with Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev.

During Lavrov’s talks with the Kazakhstan leaders, held in a traditionally friendly and trustful atmosphere, a substantive exchange of views took place on key issues in bilateral relations and on a wide spectrum of problems on the international agenda.

The sides discussed the state of and prospects for Russian-Kazakhstan cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian fields in the light of the recent agreements reached at the meetings of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev.

Considerable attention was paid to practical steps to bolster cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in economic and trade questions, in space, nuclear areas and in other fields. The importance was confirmed of increasing efforts to effectively implement the Joint Action Plan between Russia and Kazakhstan for 2009-2010.

In the context of the current Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship, agreement was reached on augmenting the interaction of the two countries in this Organization in dealing with pressing international and regional problems. The parties also stressed the need for even closer coordination of efforts in the integration entities operating in the CIS space: CSTO, EurAsEC and SCO. They paid special attention to practical issues relating to the creation of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The ministers discussed in detail stability and security in Central Asia, cooperation in the CICA and in fighting common threats and challenges, the situation in Afghanistan, the Caspian theme and other issues.

The parties noted with satisfaction the steady and dynamic development of multifaceted Russian-Kazakhstan relations, built on a solid foundation of friendship, mutual respect, good neighborliness, alliance and strategic partnership.