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Economic modernisation is an urgent task for Russia and Kazakhstan, the President of Russia noted in his speech at the Forum. Russia and Kazakhstan are both countries with tremendous resource potential, but that is not enough to be prosperous states. Dmitry Medvedev said that production, supply and processing of raw materials is not the way that can ensure the sustainable development and competitiveness of the two countries’ economies. The competitiveness of Russia and Kazakhstan is directly dependent on the growth of innovations.

Years of joint experience will allow the two states to either restore or launch consolidated technological chains, Dmitry Medvedev said. This experience is already being applied in the implementation of promising projects in nuclear energy, space exploration and nanotechnology. The Russian leader emphasised the role of border regions in promoting such cooperation.

The Russian President called for early completion of consolidated migration legislation. Uniform approaches should apply to the stay of citizens of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan within the territory of the Customs Union.

Dmitry Medvedev also noted that expansion of economic ties is impossible without improving transportation, and stressed the importance of the Western Europe — Western China international route, which will pass through many regions of Russia and Kazakhstan. Mr Medvedev expressed support for the initiative of President Nursultan Nazarbayev on joint efforts in water protection, energy efficiency, technical regulation and protection from man-made disasters.

The Forum focused on issues of cooperation in the energy sector, in particular, the development of Khvalynskoye offshore deposit in the Caspian Sea. Dmitry Medvedev instructed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yury Trutnev to accelerate negotiations with Kazakhstan on the Production Sharing Agreement on the deposit.

Following the Forum, a package of documents was signed in the presence of the Presidents, in particular in the fields of energy, environment, transportation, trade, economy, social and humanitarian spheres.