The Commission on Cooperation between the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation held the 16th meeting today. The Speakers of the Chambers of Parliament, Maulen Ashimbayev and Valentina Matvienko, made a welcoming speech.
“The centuries-old friendship between Kazakhstan and Russia has become the basis for building constructive and mutually beneficial interstate relations at the present stage, based on respect for the independence, territorial integrity and statehood of each other,” said Maulen Ashimbayev, opening the meeting of the Commission.
The Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia emphasized the special nature of the relationship between the two countries, based on mutual respect.
“More than 400 contracts and agreements have been signed between our countries. This is a solid legal basis for our interstate cooperation, the creation of which was facilitated by the Parliaments of both countries. All these interstate documents are focused on mutual recognition of statehood, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of our states and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. This is the keystone, which will never change regardless of any political situation,” said the Chairperson of the Federation Council.
Valentina Matvienko stressed that Kazakhstan has established itself as an effective state over 30 years.
“Kazakhstan is one of the most effective states in the post-Soviet area with a developed market economy, stable state institutions, a democratic system of government and a two-chamber parliament, and we, being your friends and partners, are genuinely glad of Kazakhstan’s successful development,” said the Speaker of the Federation Council.
During the meeting, the senators of the two countries considered several topical issues on the bilateral agenda. In particular, they discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia in the aerospace industry. Such issues as development of bilateral cooperation in the field of space exploration and joint use of the Baikonur complex were raised during the discussion.
The agenda also included a number of issues related to the development of interregional and cross-border cooperation, including improvement of the work of checkpoints at the Kazakh-Russian border.
There are 30 checkpoints on the border, of which 17 are multilateral and 13 are bilateral. Taking into account the workload and throughput, the Kazakhstani side identified 27 points requiring reconstruction.
Maulen Ashimbayev stressed the importance of efficient operation of such checkpoints for citizens and business representatives of both countries. In this regard, the Senate Speaker stressed the need to intensify joint measures for reconstruction of such checkpoints.
“These checkpoints are important for the citizens of the two countries. Over 44 million people and 7.5 million vehicles pass through them annually. A considerable portion of the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Russia falls on the border regions today. Thus, these checkpoints are actively used by business representatives and transport and logistics companies,” said the Chairman of the Senate.
Maulen Ashimbayev expressed confidence that both countries are interested in the efficient and smooth operation of the border checkpoints.
In addition, the MPs also raised the environmental problems of transboundary rivers. Maulen Ashimbayev stressed that the social and economic development of the regions and the well-being of citizens living on the banks of these rivers directly depend on the solution of these issues.
“First of all, we are talking about a drawdown of the water level of the Zhaiyk River, and thus, the deterioration of the ecological situation. The river is of strategic importance for the people living in the region. The development of agriculture and, therefore, food security largely depends on its state. There are also a number of problems associated with the Irtysh,” Maulen Ashimbayev said.
The Senate Speaker expressed hope for joint actions as part of bilateral programs adopted last year to restore ecosystems in the basins of the Ural and Irtysh transboundary rivers for 2021-2024.
The two sides expressed confidence that the active interaction of MPs and joint work with the relevant executive bodies would facilitate a more efficient solution of these important environmental issues.
(Press Service of the Senate, 74-72-27. Photo by E. Ukibayev)
