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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to say once again that we are delighted to welcome our friend, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and his delegation on a state visit to Moscow.

Kazakhstan is Russia’s ally, strategic partner and good neighbour, with which we are developing multifaceted and equal relations based on the principles of friendship, mutual trust and respect. We deeply appreciate our solid and time-tested ties with our Kazakhstani colleagues. We are proud of our rich common history, traditions, mutual assistance and support, and our cultural, spiritual and human contacts, which are invaluable assets for our nations. They form the foundation of our collective efforts to strengthen and expand our mutually beneficial interaction in politics, the economy and the humanitarian sphere.

I would like to note the extremely rich programme of your visit. We have held fruitful talks, following which we have approved a solid block of interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents and commercial contracts. But our main achievement is the Declaration on the transition of Russia-Kazakhstan relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance.

A Kazakh wisdom says that the strength of the eagle is in its wings, and the strength of people is in their friends. Russia highly values its close and friendly relations with Kazakhstan. We are ready to work together on the most complicated tasks, moving forward for the benefit and in the interests of our nations.

I would like to propose a toast to the further strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, to friendship and prosperity of our fraternal nations, and to the health of the President of Kazakhstan and everyone present here.

Thank you.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation for inviting us on a state visit to Moscow and for the exceptional hospitality extended to us.

Every time I visit the beautiful city of Moscow, the heart of the great fraternal Russia, where decisions are made that directly shape the development trajectory of the great Russian state and the world order as a whole, I have a special feeling of being part of significant events and deep affection for the residents of the Russian capital, the city of Moscow, and for all citizens of the Russian state.

This visit is extremely important to me and to Kazakhstan. It has shown once again Russia’s key place in the system of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy priorities. Russia is our main strategic partner and close ally. We not only have the world’s longest land border between us, but we also share the intertwined lives of our nations, cultural affinity, and common values.

Russia is a unique country and civilisation, a great power that has played and continues to play an exceptional role in global history and in determining the course of global processes.

All achievements made in modern Russia are associated with you, Mr President. Through your actions, far-sighted policy and, of course, respected leadership, you are making a great personal contribution to strengthening Russian statehood and the international standing of your country.

Kazakhstan as your closest ally and reliable friend sincerely wants Russia to be strong, stable and prosperous. Our talks have shown once again that no external challenges can undermine, let alone destroy, the solid foundation of mutual trust between Russia and Kazakhstan. The latest proof of this is the Declaration on the Transition of Interstate Relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Alliance, which we have signed today. This vital document is aimed at greatly expanding the horizons of our multifaceted cooperation, reflecting the strong will of our nations to jointly move forward towards new heights of cooperation.

Thanks to our joint efforts, our bilateral cooperation continues to progress steadily in all spheres, setting a model example of interstate ties. I am confident that my visit and the agreements we have reached will create a new major reserve for our future advance towards the new horizons of close cooperation and interaction and will be key to the successful implementation of our common plan for the benefit of our nations.

I would like to use this occasion to express my sincere gratitude to all those whose daily efforts are strengthening the ties of unbreakable Kazakhstani-Russian friendship. As the great Kazakh poet and thinker, Abai, said, friendship is a light that does not fade even in the darkest night.

Our shared history shows the strength of unity better than any words. We stood by and supported each other in the most difficult times, jointly enduring numerous trials and jointly securing the Great Victory, which we continue to hold sacred in our hearts.

There is centuries-old wisdom in the Kazakh saying, which can be translated as “a God-given neighbour,” which is what Russia is for Kazakhstan. I am confident that the current and future generations of our peoples will preserve and strengthen our traditions of friendship and good-neighbourliness and will pass them on to their children and grandchildren.

To our unbreakable and eternal friendship and unity!

To the bright future and prosperity of our nations!

To the President of the Russian Federation!