OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2008. Dmitry Medvedev welcomed participants and guests of the Economic Forum for Business in Russia and Kazakhstan called The Innovative Path to Development – the Core of Eurasian Integration.

The Russian President’s welcome read, in part:

"Russia and Kazakhstan are united by a tradition of close friendship, good neighbourliness and alliances. Our mutually beneficial economic cooperation and multifaceted economic ties constitute a solid foundation for further strengthening strategic partnership between our two countries. Effective interaction of business communities, the growing cross-border and inter-regional contacts, the implementation of major joint projects are all a clear indication of the consistent growth of the creative potential of relations between Russia and Kazakhstan.

Today our nations face similar challenges. Among them are ensuring the further growth of our national economies, strengthening their competitiveness in world markets and improving the quality of life of our citizens. And to achieve these goals we must take the innovative path to development, introducing advanced technologies and increasing investment in human capital.

I am confident that suggestions and recommendations that will help us achieve these important goals will emerge from this forum, and that it will contribute to a successful promotion of business cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan and integration in general within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Community.

I wish all the participants of the Forum success in their useful work and significant new achievements for the benefit of our states and peoples".

The Russian-Kazakhstan Business Forum, organized by chambers of commerce and industry of both countries, is being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

The heads of the chambers of commerce and industry of CIS countries as well as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth and CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev are participating in the Forum.