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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Nazarbayev,

I am very happy to see you. I know that you have come to speak at Moscow University.

Thank you for not forgetting your creations. I am referring not only to modern Kazakhstan but also to the integration processes you launched in the post-Soviet space. This eventually led to the Eurasian Economic Union. Thank you for further promoting this concept.

As for bilateral relations, at your initiative, we have established a strategic, an absolutely strategic alliance, a strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan and this partnership is making steady progress.

We continue our political dialogue. We regularly meet with President Tokayev; our governments are working smoothly. Our trade is on the upsurge. I think last year it grew by 19.7 or 19.6 percent.

Nursultan Nazarbayev: Yes, it did.

Vladimir Putin: It has reached almost $20 billion. I think that overall these are very good figures and we have good prospects for further progress.

I am very happy to see you. Welcome.

Nursultan Nazarbayev: I thank you, Mr President, for meeting with me despite the turbulent times and the big events in the world: stock prices of energy products have fallen and the State Duma is discussing amendments to the Constitution.

Big events are underway; I am following them and I believe that today an issue I like to think about has been raised: this is right, there must be no double meaning; this is our policy.

Over all these years, we have worked closely together, more than 20 years. Bilateral relations are well established, many documents have been signed, including the Agreement on friendship, cooperation and alliance in the 21^st century, and since then Russia has been Kazakhstan’s number one partner in the economy and politics. I always say that we have exemplary relations.

At your initiative, I have become Honorary Chair of the Eurasian Union. In 1994, at Moscow State University, I first had this idea that we implemented in 2015 in Astana by signing an agreement. There are difficulties, but I believe that this integration is working and has great potential. As Honorary Chair, I will promote this.

It is March now, a year since I left office. Time flies, but I continue to actively address issues related to our relations, the development of Kazakhstan, to provide support to the new President of Kazakhstan, whom I nominated, and who was elected today.

I am here to give a speech tomorrow at Moscow State University and I expressed the desire to meet with you. We have a lot to talk about. I am very grateful to you.

I wish you all the best. Success to you and to Russia.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

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