First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council addressed a meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Andrey Yatskin and Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhakip Asanov co-chaired the 23rd meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Tver.
Andrey Yatskin pointed out that the key event of 2025 will be the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. This landmark date in the history of both countries is based on our nations’ memory of the heroism of our soldiers and home front workers.
“We highly value the contribution our grandfathers and great-grandfathers made to the defeat of Nazi Germany. We also remember that half of those who went to the front line from the fraternal Republic of Kazakhstan gave their lives for our Victory,” the senator said.
Andrey Yatskin briefed the participants on a number of celebratory events scheduled for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. In addition to the traditional celebration of the veterans and interaction of the two countries’ search groups and volunteer organisations, the programme includes cultural and educational events for Russian and Kazakhstani school students, including the Memory Train project, which involves descendants of the victors and representatives from all the 15 republics of the former Soviet Union.
“It is extremely important that President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has decided to visit Russia during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory,” the First Deputy Speaker noted.
Andrey Yatskin emphasised that the sustainable development of bilateral relations in all spheres is based on interregional ties. Last year, border ties accounted for 70 percent of mutual trade, which has been estimated at over 2.5 trillion roubles.
The senator noted that space exploration is a glaring example of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, which will continue joint projects in space exploration, experimental studies, and the development of telecommunication technologies. The sides have coordinated the timeframe for the joint project aimed at building a Baiterek space launch complex at Baikonur.
“Our legislators are contributing to the development of the space sector. Seeking to attract private investment, Russian senators have helped draft and adopt a law on the legal provisions of public-private partnership in that sphere,” the First Deputy Speaker recalled.
Andrey Yatskin added that not a single issue discussed at the commission’s meetings remains unattended. “Work is in progress on the social, tourist and transport projects we discussed several years ago, and we will ensure their implementation,” he said.
Zhakip Asanov pointed out in his address that Kazakhstan and Russia are key partners, adding that interparliamentary cooperation remains particularly effective.
“It is our common task to ensure that the work of the Cooperation Commission in the interests of our countries’ development is as fruitful as possible. We are focused on achieving practical results,” he said.
Zhakip Asanov noted that the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory is a “holiday with tears in the eyes.” “We will never forget the courage and unity of our nations in the fight against a common enemy. Our memory of the heroism of our fathers and grandfathers is a firm link between Kazakhstan and Russia.”
Tver Region Governor Igor Rudenya stated that people in the region remember the heroism of the Kazakhstani men who fought against the Nazi invaders in the Tver Region and took part in the Battle of Rzhev.
He also said that Kazakhstan is a leading trading partner of the Tver Region in terms of volume and growth pace. “Our cooperation is developing in the key economic sectors – namely, machine-building, the food and light industries, and metalworking. There is immense potential in logistics, trade, agriculture, and tourism,” he noted.
The meeting participants discussed joint projects aimed at preserving the truth about the Great Patriotic War and combating the glorification of Nazism, as well as the further development of bilateral interregional cooperation based on the best practices used in the Tver Region and the East Kazakhstan Region, and future projects in the sphere of space exploration.
Taking part in the discussion were Russian senators Yulia Lazutkina, Andrei Yepishin, Alexander Vysokinsky, Tatiana Sakharova, and Oleg Tsepkin, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Andrei Yemelyanov, Director General of Roscosmos State Corporation Dmitry Bakanov, members of the Kazakhstani parliament, representatives of Kazakhstan’s ministries and agencies, and Akim (governor) the East Kazakhstan Region Nurymbet Saktaganov.
The 24th meeting of the Cooperation Commission has been scheduled for this autumn in Kazakhstan.