New President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on 3 April, will make his first foreign visit. He will arrive in Moscow and will hold talks with Vladimir Putin. As notes a press-service of the Kremlin, “during the talks will discuss key aspects of bilateral relations, the prospects of promotion of integration processes in the Eurasian space”. According to experts, the choice by Tokayev Moscow for his first foreign trip as head of state suggests that Nur-Sultan sees Moscow as the main strategic ally.
The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev on April 3 will arrive on an official visit to Moscow. This is the first foreign trip Tokayev in his new position.
“The main item on the agenda of the head of state will be in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin”, — the press service of the Kazakh leader.
“During the talks will discuss key aspects of bilateral relations, prospects of integration processes in the Eurasian space, some urgent issues of regional agenda”, — the press-service of the Kremlin.
The official Nur-Sultan also notes that will be discussed “issues of bilateral cooperation in political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as topical regional and international issues”. Following the talks, will be signed a number of bilateral documents.
Tokayev spoke with Putin after his coming to the new post. As the press service of the Kremlin, March 21, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.
“The President of Russia warmly congratulated Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with the inauguration of the President and wished him success in this responsible position,” reads a statement on the Kremlin website.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has led Kazakhstan since its independence in 1991, announced his resignation March 19. The next day in accordance with the Constitution, a new President was appointed Tokaev, who earlier held the post of speaker of the upper house of Parliament. The Nazarbayev has retained the position of Chairman of the security Council of the Republic and head of the ruling party “Nur Otan”. In addition, at the initiative of his successor, the country’s capital Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan.
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev will lead Kazakhstan at least until the presidential elections to be held next year.
The choice of Moscow for the first visit, Tokaev — demonstration of the special relationship of the Kazakh leadership to Russia, said the Director of international projects of national strategy Institute of Russia Yuri Solozobov.
“In the language of diplomatic Protocol, the first state visit to the country, which is the main strategic ally — said Solozobov in an interview with RT. New President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev has chosen Russia as a strategic partner and emphasizes the continuity of generations”.
In turn, the ex-Director of the Institute for strategic studies under the President of Kazakhstan Bulat Sultanov said in an interview with RT that “the system of multi-vector policy of Kazakhstan the most important priority is Russia, the second China, and third republics of Central Asia, then, in descending order, the countries of the European Union, the United States.”
The expert stressed that, despite the special attention to Russia, Kazakhstan authorities do not forget about its other international partners. So, on March 27 Tokayev spoke with the ambassadors of China and the United States in Kazakhstan. The next day he received the Russian presidential aide Andrei Fursenko.
“The policy of Kazakhstan are multi-vector, pragmatism and protection of national interests,” — emphasizes the sultans.
This was stated by himself Tokayev. In an interview to the newspaper “Kommersant” he said that the multi-vector policy has played an important role in the process of formation of the state. At the same time, the head of Kazakhstan stressed that Moscow at Nur Sultan always had a special relationship.
“But within the system of priorities exist. I mean the development of allied relations with Russia, which, of course, does not preclude the development of cooperation with other States. The very fact of my first foreign visit to Russia says a lot,” said Tokayev, adding that one of his responsibilities as President is to preserve the friendship of the Kazakh and Russian peoples.
Demonstration of which country is in the list of foreign policy priorities of Kazakhstan after Russia, would be a visit to Nazarbayev and Tokayev China the return of the new President from Moscow.
March 20 the Chinese Ambassador in Kazakhstan handed over to Nursultan Nazarbayev the invitation from President XI Jinping to attend the 2nd Forum of international cooperation “One belt, one road”, which will be held in Beijing in late April. However, Yuri Solozobov believes that China can go, and he Tokayev. The new President — sinologist and a graduate of two universities: MGIMO-University and the Beijing language Institute.
In conversation with Andrey Fursenko on March 28, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that he intends “to give additional impetus to development of bilateral cooperation” with Russia. According to Bulat Sultanov, the plans of the new Kazakh leader was quite sincere.
“When Tokaev was the President of the Senate, he hosted the delegation for external relations of the Council of Federation and said that Kazakhstan and Russia are United by friendly relations, — said Sultanov. — Tokayev, the only politician who speaks about allied relations with Russia. For example: other political figures in Kazakhstan use the term “strategic partnership”.
Indeed, as reported by the Agency “Khabar”, on March 15 during a meeting with a delegation of the Federation Council headed by Chairman of the Committee on international Affairs Konstantin Kosachev Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that “the relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia are allied and are long-term in terms of a historical perspective”.
Another friendly Russian gesture of the new President was the announcement of the Russian language as a priority in learning in schools along with the Kazakh, he made at the government meeting on March 27, said Yuri Solozobov.
“I know Tokayev long as I worked in the foreign Ministry since 1993. Then he was Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs, — says Bulat Sultanov. — As a man and diplomat he is of the highest standard. As he is President we’ll see.”
The expert suggests that in the future under the new President in the Russian-Kazakh relationship you may experience breakthrough moments in the sphere of cultural and humanitarian and scientific cooperation, which is important for Nur-Sultan, and Moscow.
“A lot of conversation about the importance of Russia for Kazakhstan. But for Russia, Kazakhstan is of great value. And now the main thing — to develop our relations in the framework of the Eurasian economic Union,” — emphasizes the sultans.
At the same time on the first visit of the new President in Russia should not expect “any sensational claims,” said Yuri Solozobov.
“Will continue the course on Eurasian integration and the whole policy of the previous President Nazarbayev, — says the analyst. — Is it confirmed the continuity of policy in the framework of the Eurasian cooperation, cooperation in the common defense space, and will continue the discussion of economic programs.”
From the point of view of the expert, most likely, presidents Putin and Tokayev confirmed the focus on development of trade relations between the two countries.
“Three-quarters of its exports Kazakhstan supplies to transit through Russia, — said Solozobov. — Russia is interested in Kazakhstan as the narrow neck for the project “One belt, one road”. Well is cross-border trade is 70% of the total trade turnover between the countries”.
According to experts, in the future the two countries could go to discuss new projects in the sphere of Eurasian integration, for example, the creation of regions common development in industrial and innovation sectors. “This agenda might be of interest to both countries,” — emphasizes the analyst.
Bulat Sultanov, believes that the issues of development of the EAEC will take its place in the talks of Putin and Moscow.
“Russia and Kazakhstan are locomotives in the process of development of the Eurasian economic Union. You need to think about expanding Eurasian integration in the East and the West. You need to think about pairing the Eurasian economic Union with the project “One belt, one road”. You need to search for the platform for the creation of a free trade zone from Vladivostok to Lisbon, — the analyst believes. — I think, this direction will also be discussed at the meeting between the Tokayev and Putin.”