During the talks Mr Putin and Mr Nazarbayev discussed current international and regional issues, above all the situation in Central Asia and cooperation in the fight against international terrorism. They also considered the joint use of the Baikonur space centre.
At a meeting with journalists after the first round of negotiations, Mr Putin noted that the two countries’ joint efforts within the CIS, EurAsEC, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would be the key factor for stability, successful economic integration and sustainable development in Eurasia.
At the end of the meeting it was decided to hold a Year of Kazakhstan in Russia in 2003. Its programme will cover every aspect of life in the two countries, open up new prospects for cooperation and for people’s public and business initiatives in the two fraternal countries, and strengthen the allied relations and strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan.