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Russian, Kazakh Presidents Sign Statement on Deeper Strategic Partnership

ASTANA (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev signed a joint statement on Wednesday, pledging to deepen strategic partnership in the context of a new global order.
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The document was signed after the presidents met in the Kazakh capital of Astana, where Putin arrived on Wednesday for a two-day official visit.
Following the talks, Russia and Kazakhstan adopted a protocol on the resumption of a bilateral agreement on trade and economic cooperation that renews Russian oil and oil product exports to Kazakhstan.
Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev and Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev exchanged the protocols during a signing ceremony, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he had discussed the interaction between Russia and Kazakhstan in detail with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and exchanged views on international and regional issues.
"We discussed in detail a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral interaction in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres, exchanged views on the most pressing regional and international problems," Putin said.
Putin said that the increasing use of national currencies between the two countries protects operations from external influences.
"The share of national currencies in mutual settlements accounts for almost 90%, which allows to shield commercial operations between the two countries from the negative impact of external factors, including political conditions," Putin said.
The Russian president also said that Kazakhstan had received an invitation to obtain the status of a partner country in BRICS.

Increase of Mutual Payments in National Currencies

Putin and Tokayev welcome the increase in the share of mutual payments in national currencies, which will contribute to strengthening financial sovereignty, according to joint statement released on Wednesday.
"The parties welcome the increase in the share of bilateral transactions in national currencies, which in the long term will contribute to strengthening the financial sovereignty of the two countries," the statement said.

Russia to Increase Gas Supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan

Russia will increase gas supplies to Uzbekistan via the territory of Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday following talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
"Cooperation in the energy sector is developing systematically. Russian oil is sent to China via Kazakhstan... Gazprom really does supply gas to consumers in Kazakhstan without interruption... Since last year, gas from Russia has been pumped in transit through Kazakhstan to neighboring Uzbekistan - we will increase such supplies," Putin said.

Energy Cooperation 'Effective'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev called the energy cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan effective, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday.
"The parties note with satisfaction the effectiveness of energy cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan," the statement said, adding that Russia and Kazakhstan are interested in expanding gas cooperation, including for transportation to third countries.
Russia and Kazakhstan agree to explore prospects for bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the statement added.
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