OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2009. The Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Saudabayev, paid an official visit to the Russian Federation from November 16-17.

During the visit, the head of the foreign affairs agency of Kazakhstan laid a wreath in a solemn ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall.

At the talks in Moscow Saudabayev and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov discussed topical issues in Russia-Kazakhstan relations, progress in carrying out the Joint Action Plan of Russia and Kazakhstan for 2009-2010, and the cooperation of the sides as Kazakhstan gets ready for the OSCE chairmanship next year.

The sides devoted particular attention to the problems of the Caspian negotiation process and nuclear disarmament themes and broached the subject of the rational use and protection of transboundary water resources. Also discussed were the issues of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade and economic fields, along with interaction between the two countries in the framework of integration schemes in the CIS area. The Ministers called for continued close interaction between Russia and Kazakhstan, both in bilateral affairs and on the international scene, providing support for each other in promoting joint initiatives.

Kanat Saudabayev also held a round table in the Moscow State University library complex involving experts, officials and media members on themes concerning Russian-Kazakh relations.

During the visit several bilateral documents were signed: an Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the rules and procedures governing health services for the residents and personnel of the Baikonur cosmodrome and the nearby populated localities in the setting of Russia’s lease of the Baikonur complex; and a Cooperation Action Plan between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2010.

The visit was held in a trustful and friendly atmosphere traditional for good-neighborly Russian-Kazakh relations.