Quaere similia

🇷🇺🇰🇿Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev (Astana, 30 April 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: Kazakhstan and Russia are closest neighbours and allies. Our peoples are bound by centuries-old traditions offriendship and mutual respect. These relations are enshrined in numerous interstate documents. One of the most important dimensions of the quality of our relations is our shared memory of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. We always mark the anniversary of the Great Victory together, holding special events both in Kazakhstan and in Russia. There is no doubt that, in the current conditions, this memory has not only historical significance, but also a very practical dimension, given the persistent line of a number of European states to revive Nazism in new forms, including by once again setting the peoples of Europe against our country. ☝️Once, they targeted our common state. Today, Russia is the main target – but the essence has not changed. Russia-Kazakhstan relations are highly intensive, multidimensional and comprehensive. Most importantly, they contribute to maintaining stability across the common Eurasian space. Today, our interstate dialogue spans virtually every area, underpinned by the maturity, stability and steady development of Kazakhstan’s statehood. In our practical work on the bilateral track, we are guided by the instructions of our Leaders, who maintain regular close contact, meeting in person and speaking by phone, to discuss current aspects of cooperation and the increasingly complex international situation. 🤝Russia and Kazakhstan maintain extensive economic ties – we are key trade and investment partners. We maintain positive dynamics in these areas and note the growing non-resource component of export-import operations, while the lion’s share of settlements is carried out in national currencies and without intermediaries. We are developing privileged partnership in transport and energy, with particular emphasis on peaceful nuclear energy. We are committed to continuing constructive engagement on the international stage, primarily within the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO. In our conversations and talks, we also touch upon the #UN. We have matching assessments of the difficult processes unfolding in that organisation. In particular, we paid close attention to the assessments of the UN’s activities recently set out by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye. We are ready to exchange views on the situation in Central Asia, which is of common interest to us. We also expect to continue discussing developments in the broader Eurasian context. Read in full #RussiaKazakhstan

🎙 Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during the expanded-format talks with Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu(Astana, November 7, 2024) 💬 As always, I am delighted to find myself among our friends in Kazakhstan and to benefit from the opportunity to continue our proactive dialogue. You have just mentioned the number of times our presidents, you and I, and our allies meet every year. 🇷🇺🇰🇿 Indeed, relations between Russia and Kazakhstan have been gathering momentum. We have been working hard to prepare President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan, scheduled for November 27. We are drafting several dozen documents, just as we discussed during the restricted-format meeting. We will make sure to fast-track this process to make this summit meeting as effective and results-driven as possible. Russia and Kazakhstan have made great strides in expanding their region-to-region and inter-parliamentary ties. Ufa will be hosting the XX Inter-Regional Cooperation Forum. We hope that our leaders will be able to deliver their greetings via videoconference to the regional delegates from our two countries. We are also looking forward to expanding our ties within multilateral platforms such as the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS and the #SCO. Kazakhstan has been invited to join BRICS as a partner country. It is our hope that this will add a new dimension to our contacts regarding present-day global challenges, especially as we are witnessing and living in a time of change. 📈Trade and economic cooperation has also enjoyed positive momentum. There are flagship strategic projects underway, including the effort to upgrade the Central Asia – Centre natural gas pipeline, and many other energy projects. This includes agreements on gas supplies to Uzbekistan, as well as delivering gas to connect Kazakhstan’s northeastern regions to gas distribution networks, which could potentially pave the way for launching gas deliveries to China. All these efforts are aimed at creating resilient infrastructure in a sector which serves as a key economic development driver. Cultural, humanitarian and educational ties, projects to open joint schools in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as efforts by universities to open more branches, and the opening of Russia’s consulate in Aktau – all these undertakings will promote closer people-to-people ties, bringing those who are interested in these contacts closer together. 🤝 I am certain the Plan of Consultations and Cooperation for 2025 and 2026 that we will be signing today will make our contribution to these processes even more effective. #RussiaKazakhstan

🇷🇺🇰🇿 On April 30 in Astana, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovwas received by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Sides praised the consistent development of Russia-Kazakhstan relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance, including large-scale trade, economic and investment cooperation, close and effective coordination within Eurasian integration associations, as well as identical or similar positions on major regional and international issues. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to further active joint work to advance the entire range of bilateral ties, including deeper interstate dialogue at the highest and high levels. *** Sergey Lavrovheld talks with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev. 👉Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks The Foreign Ministers had a substantive discussion on a wide range of issues related to expanding Russia-Kazakhstan relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, educational and other spheres. They reviewed the progress in implementing key agreements reached by the Leaders of the two countries. The Ministers paid special attention to cooperation within common integration associations in the Eurasian space – the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO – as well as the International Organisation for the Russian Language, recently established at Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's initiative, and other multilateral platforms, primarily the UN. The Sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening trust-based political dialogue and promptly coordinating positions on key regional and international issues. During the talks, Minister Lavrov briefed the Kazakhstani Side in detail on Russia’s approaches to resolving the crisis around Ukraine. ✍️The Action Plan for Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2027-2028 was signed. 👉Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the joint news conference following the talks The talks were held in a traditionally warm and friendly atmosphere. #RussiaKazakhstan

🎙Remarks by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev(Astana, 30 April 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: I would like to thank our Kazakhstani friends for their traditionally warm welcome, hospitality and excellent organisation of the work. Yermek Kosherbayev and I held extensive talks. As always, they took place in a friendly and trust-based atmosphere and proved useful. Today, we thoroughly reviewed the current state and prospects of our multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation. We paid particular attention to implementing the agreements reached by our Leaders, including those following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to Russia in November 2025. We discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest, high and other levels, primarily the planned state visit of President Vladimir Putin to the Republic of Kazakhstan. ☝️We also highly value the close cooperation between our Foreign Ministries. We share the view that the Inter-MFA Cooperation Plan for 2027-2028, just signed in your presence, will help further strengthen this interaction. We also discussed key regional and international issues in a spirit of friendship and alliance. We highly value our cooperation within integration mechanisms – the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS and #SCO. In our common view, this cooperation remains an important factor in ensuring security and stable conditions for sustainable development across the entire Eurasian space. In this context, we are interested in further advancing Kazakhstan’s initiative within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. Another important area of joint work is the Caspian Sea. We are compelled to state that the unprovoked armed aggression by the US and Israel against Iran has had the most negative impact on the Caspian Sea and its coastline, which must remain a zone of peace and cooperation. The strike by the anti-Iranian coalition on March 18 against the infrastructure of the Anzali seaport – which serves the trade and logistics interests of all five Caspian littoral states – was inadmissible and unacceptable. Speaking of the Middle East, we believe it is important not to lose sight of developments in Lebanon and, especially, the deadlock over the establishment of a Palestinian State, which currently shows no clear way forward. We also touched upon the situation in and around Ukraine. We are grateful to our Kazakhstani partners for their understanding and balanced assessment of the developments there. We know that these assessments are regularly voiced at various international events, including by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The key point remains that a just and lasting settlement is impossible without addressing the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. We remain interested in resuming the negotiating process on the basis of the existing Russian-US understandings. Yesterday, during a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed this position. We expect the understandings reached in Alaska to be implemented. 🤝 I believe we can express mutual satisfaction with the results of today’s conversation. We will continue to maintain the closest possible contacts going forward. Read in full #RussiaKazakhstan

✨️ On February 4, Ambassador Albert P. Khorev participated in a seminar titled "25 Years of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Towards Fair Global Governance, Shared Sustainable Development, and Multilateral Cooperation," which was held at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad. ❗️The Russian Ambassador noted that, in its 25 years of existence, the #SCO has firmly established itself as an influential international organization that actively contributes to the formation of a multipolar world order. He emphasized that Russian foreign policy consistently prioritizes steadily strengthening the SCO and enhancing its role in international affairs. Albert P. Khorev emphasized the SCO's growing collective potential, allowing it to be viewed as a reliable foundation for establishing a system of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia. The Ambassador noted the promising prospects for combining the potential of the SCO and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the trade, economic, and social spheres. He emphasized that establishing diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Armenia in August 2025 paved the way for a potential free trade agreement between Pakistan and the #EAEU. Ambassador Khorev informed the audience about the trade, economic, social, and sporting events that were held in Russia in 2025 as part of our country's SCO Council of Heads of Government chairmanship. He noted the progress that SCO members have achieved in finance, investment, high technology, the digital economy, energy, and developing small and medium-sized enterprises. He praised the SCO countries' efforts to transition to mutual settlements in national currencies. Albert P. Khorev thanked the SCO partners for supporting Russia's initiative to adopt a special thematic statement in which the leaders of the organization's member states honored the heroic actions of peace-loving peoples during World War II. The statement also reaffirmed the lasting importance of defeating fascism and militarism and confirmed the commitment of our countries to peace and tranquility. He also emphasized the SCO's constructive role in addressing international conflicts, including those in Gaza, Iran, and Afghanistan. The Ambassador outlined Russia's approach to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. He discussed the SCO's collaboration with other international and regional organizations, such as the #UN, the #CIS, and the #CSTO. In conclusion, the Ambassador assured the partners that Russia is committed to supporting Kyrgyzstan's chairmanship in strengthening the SCO in 2026. Other prominent speakers included Special Secretary UN, Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, Ambassador Nabeel Munir; Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong; NUST Rector, Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif; and NUST Institute of Political Studies Director General, Ashfaque Hasan Khan. SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev delivered a welcome speech to the participants via video link. The speakers emphasized the important role of the SCO in promoting sustainable development in Eurasia. They underscored Russia's and China's significant contributions to strengthening peace and stability in Eurasia, as well as Pakistan's active efforts to enhance the SCO's effectiveness.

🇷🇺🇰🇿 October 22 marks 3️⃣3️⃣ years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Our nations share common cultural, spiritual and moral values, centuries of living in a union-state, and mutual achievements and victories. Today's Russian-Kazakhstani relations are characterized as strategic partnership and alliance, and are based on long-lasting friendship, mutual trust and respect for each other’s interests. 🤝 The Leaders of Russia and Kazakhstan have developed close and cordial personal relations during many years of cooperation. Both countries' Presidents often hold talks and telephone conversations, exchanging views on current bilateral, regional and global issues. Our Foreign Ministers also maintain regular contacts. In October 2024, President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Astana, where the Sides coordinated a solid package of documents that strengthened the architecture of our multifaceted bilateral cooperation. 📈Russia is one of Kazakhstan’s largest trade, economic and investment partners. Mutual trade turnover reached a record of more than $28 billion in 2023 and was maintained at the same level in 2024. We are also increasing the share of national currencies (almost 90%) in mutual trade operations. There are over 23'000 businesses with Russian assets in Kazakhstan. Russia’s investment in the country's economy have exceeded $10 billion. The two countries are implementing over 60 major joint projects in all spheres of the Kazakhstani national economy. Our interaction in the oil and gas sector is developing dynamically. Russia’s Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Tatneft and LUKOIL corporations hold a substantial position in Kazakhstan. Both countries' oil and energy companies are jointly developing hydrocarbon fields, processing energy resources and expanding the pipeline systems. Russia and Kazakhstan were among the initiators of integration processes in the post-Soviet space, and are the founding-nations of the Eurasian Economic Union (#EAEU). Moscow and Astana are working together within the #CIS, #CSTO and #SCO. Kazakhstan supports the Russian initiative of building an equal and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia. Our countries are at the forefront of the efforts to create a more just #MultipolarWorld order, and promote similar views on the key role of international law in international relations and the importance of respecting the interests of all countries in the sphere of global security. ✍️ An excerpt from article by President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper, "Russia – Kazakhstan: a Forward-Looking Alliance Demanded by Life" (November 27, 2024) “The cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan has been a genuine alliance, which continues to develop actively in all directions. <...> Russia is willing to continue developing multifaceted relations of friendship and alliance with the Republic of Kazakhstan for the benefit of our peoples.” #RussiaKazakhstan

🇷🇺🇰🇬Statement by President Vladimir Putin to the press following the Russian-Kyrgyz talkswith President Sadyr Japarov(November 26, 2025, Bishkek) Following the talks, a signing ceremony was held where a number of bilateral documents were inked, including a Joint Statement by the Presidents on deepening relations of alliance and strategic partnership. 💬Vladimir Putin: I would once again like to thank the President of Kyrgyzstan for the invitation, and all our Kyrgyz colleagues for their hospitality and warm reception. I agree with my counterpart - today’s talks were highly productive and proceeded in a constructive spirit. All of this clearly reflects the genuinely friendly and good-neighbourly nature of relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan. We held a detailed discussion of the entire range of issues on the bilateral agenda and exchanged views on pressing regional matters. Priority attention during the talks was devoted to further developing economic cooperation. Last year, bilateral trade reached a new record, exceeding four billion dollars. This year, mutual trade flows have continued to grow at a solid pace – around 17%. This is a good result. Russia is among the leading investors in the Kyrgyz economy. Russian capital investment has now accumulated to nearly two billion dollars. About 1,700 business entities with Russian participation operate in Kyrgyzstan in key sectors such as energy, mining, agriculture, transport and logistics. All of this has become possible thanks to the confident domestic policy pursued by the President of Kyrgyzstan and the stability within the country. Our nations cooperate closely within the Eurasian Economic Union. Together with the other member states, we are creating common markets for goods, services, capital and labour. The development of Eurasian integration yields indisputable dividends for all the member states, including Kyrgyzstan. For example, in the ten years since the Republic joined the #EAEU, its GDP has increased two and a half times, and exports to other EAEU countries have quadrupled. Energy is one of the most important areas of Russian-Kyrgyz cooperation. Russia fully meets Kyrgyzstan’s needs for petrol and diesel, on preferential terms and without export duties, which provides a direct economic benefit to the Republic. Russian-Kyrgyz humanitarian cooperation traditionally has an intensive and multifaceted character. Ties between the citizens of our countries continue to grow and expand. Russia and Kyrgyzstan work closely together in the fields of culture, sports, public and youth organizations, and, of course, education. More than 10,000 Kyrgyz students study in Russia, and, as the President has just noted, half of them on a budgetary basis. It is also gratifying that in Kyrgyzstan, together with Russia, the Russian language is used freely and has official status under the Constitution. We value this highly. Its use in various spheres of life is actively supported by the country’s leadership. Naturally, we held a substantive discussion on expanding bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical sphere, and outlined plans for joint efforts to counter terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and organized crime. Both Sides noted that the joint Russian military base deployed in Kyrgyzstan makes a significant contribution to strengthening the Republic’s defence capability and, in general, to ensuring security and stability throughout Central Asia. When reviewing current foreign-policy issues, we noted the close, and in many areas identical, alignment of our approaches approaches. Our countries coordinate positions in multilateral formats, including the #UN, the #SCO and the #CIS. 🤝 In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our Kyrgyz friends and to the President for the constructive and productive talks. I am confident that this visit and our negotiations will contribute to the further development of the multifaceted Russian-Kyrgyz relationship for the benefit of our peoples and our countries.

🎙 Fjalimi dhe përgjigjet e pyetjeve të Ministrit të Punëve të Jashtme të Federatës Ruse S.V.Lavrov gjatë “orës së qeverisë” në Dumën e Shtetit (Moskë, 19 shkurt 2025) 💬 S.V.Lavrov: Detyra kryesore e shërbimit tonë diplomatik ishte dhe mbetet, siç parashikohet në të gjitha versionet e Konceptit të Politikës së Jashtme (përfshirë atë më të fundit të datës 31 mars 2023), të promovojë krijimin e kushteve të jashtme të favorshme, të sigurta për të garantuar zhvillimin progresiv të vendit tonë, sovranitetin e tij ekonomik dhe teknologjik dhe rritjen e mirëqenies dhe cilësisë së jetës së qytetarëve rusë. <...> 🌐 Lëvizja kryesore në fazën aktuale mbetet lëvizja drejt një rendi botëror shumëpolar. Ky është një proces historik në shkallë, i shoqëruar me tendenca objektive të shfaqjes në hartën botërore të qendrave të reja të pushtetit nga vendet e Shumicës Botërore. <...> 🤝 Ndër prioritetet tona rajonale është forcimi i “brezit të fqinjësisë së mirë” përmes integrimit të qëndrueshëm me fqinjët tanë dhe ruajtjen e stabilitetit në Euroazinë e Madhe. Ne po e zgjidhim këtë problem si në baza dypalëshe me shtetet përkatëse, ashtu edhe në kuadër të strukturave të tilla si #CSTO, #CIS, #EAEU, #SCO dhe struktura të tjera shumëpalëshe. Më 14 korrik 2023, Presidenti V.V.Putin, gjatë fjalimit në Ministrinë e Punëve të Jashtme, paraqiti një iniciativë strategjike të krijimit të një arkitekture sigurie euroaziatike për të zëvendësuar modelin e falimentuar euro-atlantik. Arkitektura euroaziatike do të jetë e hapur për të gjitha shtetet e bashkimit të të gjithë kontinentit tonë, përfshirë edhe pjesën evropiane të tij. Ne besojmë se të gjithë duhet të kenë mundësinë të kontribuojnë në mirëqenien e një kontinenti të përbashkët dhe të vetëm. Më i madhi, më i populluari dhe, ndoshta, më premtuesi për sa i përket zhvillimit ekonomik. Ky vit shënohet me 80 vjetorin e Fitores së Madhe dhe 80 vjetorin e krijimit të OKB-së. Si më parë, ne do t'i kushtojmë vëmendje të vazhdueshme bashkimit të përpjekjeve ndërkombëtare për të luftuar çdo manifestim të neo-nazizmit, rusofobisë dhe formave të tjera të intolerancës racore dhe fetare. <...> ❗️ Nënvizoj se linja e politikës së jashtme e miratuar nga Presidenti i Federatës Ruse V.V.Putin ka një natyrë afatgjatë, strategjike. Ajo nuk i nënshtrohet konjiunkturës së brendshme politike dhe nuk varet nga tekat e keqbërësve tanë. Lexoni të plotë

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during the 9th Ministerial Meeting of Russia and Central Asia (Moscow, April 17, 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: I am pleased to welcome you to Moscow. We began our joint work yesterday at the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, and today we are holding the ninth meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia and Central Asia. This in itself underscores the relevance of this six-party dialogue mechanism. In our view, it is developing successfully and dynamically, to the benefit of all participants. In October 2025, the Second Russia – Central Asia Summit was held in the welcoming city of Dushanbe. During the summit, our leaders approved a Joint Action Plan for 2025-2027 and put forward a number of important initiatives. Our task now is to translate these decisions into concrete steps. The Action Plan serves as a framework document, outlining the key areas of our cooperation: trade, economic and investment ties, transport, energy, healthcare, environmental protection, security, cultural and humanitarian engagement, and migration. Specific projects and initiatives are currently being developed within the six-party working groups established by the relevant agencies of Russia and your countries. As we noted today during the #CIS meeting, our relations are grounded in equality, mutual respect, and careful consideration of each other’s interests. They truly deserve the highest recognition as an example of a modern and forward-looking model of international partnership. Our leaders maintain close and regular communication, both bilaterally and within integration frameworks such as the #CIS, the #EAEU, the #CSTO, and the #SCO. Active contacts are also sustained among heads of government, deputy prime ministers, and the leadership of parliaments, ministries, and agencies. Despite the current geopolitical turbulence – which we examined in detail during today’s CIS meetings – we have succeeded in maintaining a consistently high level of trade turnover. In 2025, it continued to grow, approaching the $50 billion mark. As I have already noted, cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to develop. Through our joint efforts, and at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,the International Organisation of the Russian Language was established. The Russian language remains a key means of communication not only between Russia and the Central Asian states, but also among the peoples of the broader post-Soviet space. Our approaches to international issues are closely aligned and, in most cases, coincide. We greatly appreciatethat, despite unprecedented external pressure, the Central Asian countries remain committed to their allied obligations, thereby contributing to the dynamic development of our friendly and mutually beneficial relations, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, including the Russia – Central Asia mechanism. I hope that today we will be able to make a tangible contribution to the implementation of the decisions adopted at the second Russia – Central Asia Summit in Dushanbe.

🗓 On February 19, a ‘Government Hour’ with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the priorities of the foreign policy of the Russian Federationwas held as part of a plenary meeting of the State Duma. The Foreign Minister informed the parliamentarians about the key areas of the Russian diplomacy’s efforts in the context of the current geopolitical realities and the Ministry’s tasks to protect national interests and strengthen the country’s leading positions on the global arena. The list of issues raised at the meeting included settling the conflict around Ukraine, initiatives to create a Eurasian security architecture and combat neocolonialism, cooperation within the Union State, the #CSTO, the #EAEU, the #CIS, the #SCO, expanding multifaceted interaction with all sensible partners and, above all, with the states of the Global Majority, countering the hegemonic aspirations of the West, protecting the rights and interests of Russian citizens and compatriots abroad. Following the discussion, Sergey Lavrov highlighted the importance of further deepening the regular dialogue with elected representatives that contributes to the effective implementation of the unified foreign policy of the Russian Federation, which enjoys consensus support.

✨️ On October 16, Ambassador Albert P. Khorev took part in the opening ceremony of the Eurasian Chapter of the Consortium for Asia-Pacific and Eurasian Studies. During his speech, Ambassador Khorev emphasized the importance of finding ways to strengthen the Eurasian community amid ongoing global turbulence. ❗️Focusing on the collaborative effort between Russia and Belarus to establish a new framework for Eurasian security, Ambassador underscored the accomplishments of Eurasian integration within the context of prominent regional organizations, including the #EAEU, #CSTO, #CIS, and #SCO. He noted that there were no obstacles to Pakistan intensifying its cooperation with the EAEU, including signing a free trade agreement. 🤝 During the discussion, participants emphasized Russia's pivotal role in ensuring food, energy, and military security in Eurasia. 🇷🇺🇵🇰 They discussed opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between Russia, Pakistan, and other regional countries, as well as ways to intensify cultural dialogue, educational exchanges, and academic contacts between the peoples of Eurasia.

🎙 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during the 9th Ministerial Meeting of Russia and Central Asia (Moscow, April 17, 2026) 💬Sergey Lavrov: I am pleased to welcome you to Moscow. We began our joint work yesterday at the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, and today we are holding the ninth meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia and Central Asia. This in itself underscores the relevance of this six-party dialogue mechanism. In our view, it is developing successfully and dynamically, to the benefit of all participants. In October 2025, the Second Russia – Central Asia Summit was held in the welcoming city of Dushanbe. During the summit, our leaders approved a Joint Action Plan for 2025-2027 and put forward a number of important initiatives. Our task now is to translate these decisions into concrete steps. The Action Plan serves as a framework document, outlining the key areas of our cooperation: trade, economic and investment ties, transport, energy, healthcare, environmental protection, security, cultural and humanitarian engagement, and migration. Specific projects and initiatives are currently being developed within the six-party working groups established by the relevant agencies of Russia and your countries. As we noted today during the #CIS meeting, our relations are grounded in equality, mutual respect, and careful consideration of each other’s interests. They truly deserve the highest recognition as an example of a modern and forward-looking model of international partnership. Our leaders maintain close and regular communication, both bilaterally and within integration frameworks such as the #CIS, the #EAEU, the #CSTO, and the #SCO. Active contacts are also sustained among heads of government, deputy prime ministers, and the leadership of parliaments, ministries, and agencies. Despite the current geopolitical turbulence – which we examined in detail during today’s CIS meetings – we have succeeded in maintaining a consistently high level of trade turnover. In 2025, it continued to grow, approaching the $50 billion mark. As I have already noted, cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to develop. Through our joint efforts, and at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,the International Organisation of the Russian Language was established. The Russian language remains a key means of communication not only between Russia and the Central Asian states, but also among the peoples of the broader post-Soviet space. Our approaches to international issues are closely aligned and, in most cases, coincide. We greatly appreciatethat, despite unprecedented external pressure, the Central Asian countries remain committed to their allied obligations, thereby contributing to the dynamic development of our friendly and mutually beneficial relations, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, including the Russia – Central Asia mechanism. I hope that today we will be able to make a tangible contribution to the implementation of the decisions adopted at the second Russia – Central Asia Summit in Dushanbe.