Russia–Kazakhstan: From ‘Key Trade Partners’ to Cooperation in Digital Economy

Astana — Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk has arrived in Kazakhstan, where he chaired a meeting of the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission for Russian-Kazakhstani Cooperation.

Participants identified eight main areas for future cooperation: logistics and transport, industrial cooperation, agriculture, tourism, high technologies, humanitarian agenda, information and communication sector, and digital economy.

Overchuk emphasized that Russia and Kazakhstan are each other’s key trade partners.

In tourism, Kazakhstan is among the most popular foreign destinations for Russian tourists. In 2025, mutual tourist flows totaled 4.9 million trips.

Humanitarian cooperation is seen as a key element in strengthening neighborly relations. Last year, Kazakhstan’s Culture Days were held in Russia, where Russians could explore the achievements of modern Kazakh culture — from theater and music to cinema and visual arts.

On the initiative of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the International Organization for the Russian Language was established. Its secretariat began operations in Sochi on April 1.

In regional cooperation, over fifty events were held last year with the participation of regional authorities from both countries, along with about 40 business missions. The next annual Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan will take place this autumn in Omsk.