Astana, Nov 9 (EFE).- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday underscored the “tremendous agricultural potential” of Russia and Kazakhstan in ensuring food security not only for themselves but also for their global partners, while meeting with his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in Astana.
“We possess a very good potential given the current global situation. I am referring, first and foremost, not even to conflicts, but to what is happening in the field of development, demographic development,” the Kremlin leader said.
Putin, who arrived in the Kazakh capital on an official visit Tokayev deemed of “great political, perhaps historic significance,” specified he was referring to the “tremendous agricultural potential” of the neighboring countries.
“We have good opportunities to secure our interests and assist many of our partners around the world, in global markets. That is what we are doing,” he said.
Mutually beneficial cooperation
Before starting bilateral talks, Tokayev and Putin addressed the participants of the 19th Interregional Cooperation Forum between Kazakhstan and Russia via video conference.
“Our countries have tremendous opportunities to expand trade and mutually beneficial cooperation in the agricultural sector. It is enough to mention that Kazakhstan and Russia are among the largest producers of agricultural products and among the top ten global leaders in grain exports,” Tokayev told the Forum attendees.
He recalled that the two nations account for nearly 10% of the world’s arable land and 9% of its pastures.
Putin highlighted that Russia is a key supplier to Kazakhstan of product groups such as wheat, barley, poultry, sugar, and fermented dairy products.
He added that the bilateral trade turnover of agricultural products and foodstuffs in general increased by 22% last year, reaching $4 billion.
“Our country intends to continue supplying the Kazakh market uninterruptedly with these and other types of essential foods,” Putin said. EFE