Kazakhstan to develop further relations with Russia

ASTANA (Itar-Tass) - Russia remains Kazakhstan's major
strategic partner, Nursultan Nazarbayev told participants in the 13th
congress of the Nur Otan party on Friday.
His candidature for the early presidential election was supported by the congress earlier on Friday.
"We shall further develop the strategic partnership with Russia on the
basis of our agreement on eternal friendship and cooperation in the XXI
century," he said.
He pointed to the importance of organising a United Economic Space.
Back in 1995, Kazakhstan's export made only five billion dollars, while
over past year it reached 60 billion dollars, he said.
"The Customs Union with the participation of Russia, Kazakhstan and
Belarus opens the new market, where the population exceeds 170 million and
the joint GDP reaches 1.4 trillion dollars," he said. "While strengthening
our friendly relations and the integration processes, we fully approach
the organisation of the United Economic Space."
Besides Russia, Kazakhstan will "strengthen its cooperation with China
and states of Central Asia, it will expand constructive cooperation with
the US and the EU," he added.
"This year we shall chair the Organisation of Islamic Conference,"
Nazarbayev continued. "Kazakhstan will participate actively in the work of
regional organisations, like SCO, CICA /Conference on Interaction and
Confidence Building Measures in Asia/, EURASEC."