Maulen Ashimbayev is on an official visit to the Russian Federation.
Russia and Kazakhstan are truly equitable allies and integration partners, Valentina Matvienko said adding that the two countries are bound by comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance.
“In fact, this means that there is not a single sphere of public, civil society, or people-to-people activity in which we do not maintain specific and practical cooperation, including at the parliamentary level,” the Federation Council Speaker stated.
According to Valentina Matvienko, the Russia-Kazakhstan inter-parliamentary dialogue has in recent years become substantive and trust-based, and is geared towards interaction in practical matters. The Federation Council Speaker thanked the co-chairs of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council and the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Andrey Yatskin and Zhakip Assanov for their extensive efforts.
The Federation Council Speaker noted that changes were expected to take place in the parliamentary system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “We are committed to maintaining effective interaction under new circumstances and hope that following the completion of the necessary procedures for the formation of the Kurultai and the start of its work, we will be able to quickly establish updated dialogue mechanisms,” she said confirming her strong commitment to strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Valentina Matvienko emphasised that Russia had retained its status as one of Kazakhstan’s leading trade and economic partners.
The parties noted that the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have established and are successfully expanding cooperation with the akimats of Kazakhstan boasting significant experience of partnership in this area at the parliamentary level. “It is important not to lose it. The next forum of interregional cooperation will be held in Omsk and will take centre stage in the context of cooperation between the regions of the two countries,” Valentina Matvienko said.
The Federation Council Speaker thanked her Kazakhstani counterpart for supporting the annual cultural and educational project “Memory Train.” “We are looking forward to hosting Kazakhstani project participants in Moscow in June,” she said.
Maulen Ashimbayev expressed his gratitude for the invitation to pay an official visit to Russia.
“Kazakhstan and Russia are strategic partners and reliable allies. A strong and robust cooperation model based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests has been built between the countries,” the Chair of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan said. “Relations between us have taken on a new quality and gained additional momentum. We are bound by a strong long-term partnership and cooperation across a broad range of matters,” he stated.
Maulen Ashimbayev pointed out Valentina Matvienko’s personal contribution to promoting Russia-Kazakhstan inter-parliamentary relations and spoke highly of the work of the inter-senate Commission on Cooperation.
According to him, the planned programme of inter-parliamentary events is being implemented at a fast pace.
Valentina Matvienko and Maulen Ashimbayev discussed training of Kazakhstani students at Russian universities, the construction in Kazakhstan of the Sirius International Educational School, and cooperation on multilateral parliamentary venues, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union. “The world and Eurasia are going through a period of turbulence. Given the circumstances, we need to work together in common political and economic interests, making use of the potential of highly integrated ties created over the years,” Valentina Matvienko said.
The Federation Council Speaker presented the Chair of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the Order of Friendship which is a state award in the Russian Federation.
The event was attended by First Deputy Federation Council Speaker Andrey Yatskin, Deputy Federation Council Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Andrei Shchevchenko, and Senators of the Russian Federation Andrey Denisov, Yulia Lazutkina, Natalia Khorova, and Oleg Tsepkin.