Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Karim Masimov, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as part of the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in Beijing
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Masimov, colleagues, it's my pleasure to have an opportunity to discuss Russian-Kazakh relations at this meeting of the Council of the SCO Heads of Government. I have just met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who sent his regards to you.
We are actively cooperating in a number of areas, the creation of the Customs Union being one of the key agenda items. Kazakhstan has always been one of the strongest advocates and initiators of former Soviet republics' integration. A new level of tangible cooperation will be a major step forward in reaching the goals of integration we have been discussing. At long last we are getting over to practical steps.
This project is very pertinent given our high level of economic cooperation. As a matter of fact, Russia and Kazakhstan still have a common energy system, transport and other infrastructure. This is all very important.
As we agreed, we must arrive at cardinal decisions by January 1 and prepare the necessary documents for the heads of state in the immediate future. There are also other issues that we will be happy to discuss with you today.
Karim Masimov: Mr Putin, thank you for this opportunity to meet today. Regardless of the fact that our meetings are regular, life is so dynamic that every time we need to coordinate our positions and map out new goals. In this respect such meetings appear especially pertinent. We can use any venue to discuss our bilateral relations.
President Nazarbayev told us, the Government, that we should be guided by a core principle that Russia is our main partner and friend. We will try our best to strengthen bilateral relations - partnership between our countries, and personal relations between you and President Nazarbayev.
Our relations have been tested by time, allowing us to openly address all the issues that emerge in the course of our interaction. I fully agree with you that much has been achieved since mid-June, when the decision was made to streamline the establishment of the Customs Union.
Kazakh and Russian first deputy prime ministers hold regular meetings in the format of discussion panels. Almost all positions have been coordinated at a high level. Next week, a delegation headed by Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev will pay a visit to Moscow. Mr Shukeyev will meet with Igor Shuvalov (Russian First Deputy Prime Minister).
I think the coordination of all the remaining issues will be completed at this meeting. The relevant documents will be ready for signing by late November, when the meeting of the EurAsEC heads of state will take place, so, the deadline will be met. I believe that the Customs Union will take effect on January 1, 2010, as agreed.
In addition, I would like to inform you that a year ago we raised the question of strengthening the Kazakh southern border, which is our zone of responsibility in the Customs Union. Despite the crisis and insufficient tax revenues in many areas, we made a groundbreaking decision to allocate the necessary funds from the reserve and to plan all relevant expenditure items in next year's budget. I can assure you that by the end of the next year all borders in southern Kazakhstan, our zone of responsibility, will be securely guarded.
Vladimir Putin: It is an essential condition for the creation of the Customs Union. I would like to thank you for this decision.
