Kazakhstan, Russia have strong economic and neighborly ties - Kazakh deputy PM

ASTANA. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin has emphasized economic focus in the country's relationship with Russia.

"What room is there for politics in this context? Our agenda is centered on economic and trade relations. Experts and leaders of the regions are arriving to ink agreements focused on trade across the regions. This is clearly in the interest of both nations," Zhumangarin said, addressing concerns about the implications of the upcoming forum of interregional cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Astana.

"The economy always comes first; politics come later. Our trade turnover with Russia is 27 billion tenge, which is our major trading partner for today," Zhumangarin said.

Zhumangarin noted that Kazakhstan regards Putin as "the leader of a state with which we maintain cordial neighborly relations."

Putin is scheduled to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on November 9.

The presidents of the two countries are set to address the current issues relating to the Kazakhstan-Russia strategic partnership. Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will also take part in the 19th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in Kostanay via video conference.

The tenge/dollar exchange rate as on November 6, 2023, was around 461.182 tenge/$1.