OREANDA-NEWS. December 16, 2008. “Over the past few years Kazakhstan has made significant economic and social progress”, the President of Russia’s congratulatory message reads. “Stability and harmony at home and an active foreign policy have become a solid basis for strengthening the international authority of your country.

Russia and Kazakhstan are linked by strong traditions of friendship and mutual support, traditions which our peoples have cultivated and passed on from generation to generation. In many ways today Russian-Kazakhstani relations are those between genuine strategic partners and allies. We intend to continue to build on the momentum of political dialogue at all levels, promote innovation, trade and economic cooperation, enhance relations between regions and in the cultural and educational spheres.

The practice of closely coordinating our policy activities has proven its effectiveness in the regional structures in Eurasia and greatly helped promote integration within the CIS, EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community), CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) and SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation). I am confident that together we can effectively meet new economic and financial challenges as well as implement large-scale projects aimed at ensuring stability and improving the quality of life of our citizens.”