By RIA Novosti,
Astana : Kazakhstan hopes to sign a long-term cooperation and integration deal with Russia, and has proposed that the sides draw up a draft agreement, the Kazakh president has said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, speaking at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, Thursday said: “We have proposed to Russia the drafting of a long-term agreement on cooperation and integration between our countries.”
Medvedev, in Astana on his first foreign visit since taking office May 7, said the agreement is likely to include aspects of Russia’s development until 2020 and Kazakh development plans until 2030.
The Kazakh president noted the strategic importance of bilateral energy cooperation, and proposed establishing a joint oil refining venture.
Medvedev highlighted projects to establish a Russian-Kazakh company on peaceful nuclear energy and build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan with Russia’s participation.
“Our plans include a transition to deeper nuclear energy integration,” he told reporters.
The presidents adopted a joint statement on their countries’ willingness to develop neighbourly relations, friendship and defence cooperation “to support regional and global security”.
Russia and Kazakhstan hold “similar positions on key international issues and will enhance international contacts”, the statement said.