During his state visit to Kazakhstan on May 28, President of Russia Vladimir Putin held talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana.
The presidents signed the Joint Statement on the Seven Foundations of Friendship and Neighborliness between the Peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan.
Tokayev and Putin attended presentations of joint Kazakh-Russian projects. The heads of state viewed video reports on industrial cooperation, the launch of two-way cargo shipments using autonomous trucks between Moscow and Astana, as well as the reintroduction of the Amur tigers brought from Russia to Kazakhstan.
The two presidents also held a ceremony marking the launch of the project to build the Sirius Center for talented children in Astana. Putin and Tokayev saw a video presentation on the laying of a capsule at the site of the future educational center.
As part of the visit, an agreement was concluded between the governments of Russia and Kazakhstan on the basic principles and conditions of cooperation on the project for the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Kazakhstan. The agreement was signed by Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, and Almasadam Satkaliev, head of the Agency for Atomic Energy of Kazakhstan.
The agreement outlines the key provisions for the NPP project. The project involves building two Russian-designed power units with VVER-1200 reactors adhering to the best Russian practices. The document outlines the main areas of cooperation for the NPP operation, including service maintenance and fuel supply.
“We place great importance on our long-term partnership with Kazakhstan and are confident that Russian nuclear technologies will establish a solid foundation for the nation’s energy independence and contribute to sustainable development. Our partnership has now achieved a qualitative leap, offering fresh opportunities for economic and technological advancement,” said Likhachev.
Work on the project for the construction of the Balkhash nuclear power plant began in August 2025 in the village of Ulken (Zhambyl district, Almaty region, Kazakhstan). The work included engineering research to select an optimal site and prepare project documentation for the construction of a high-capacity nuclear power plant. The results will determine the exact location of the NPP taking into account all safety requirements. Over 90% of field engineering surveys were completed by May 2026.
During the visit, Kazakhstan and Russia also signed a joint action plan between Russian Railways and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy for the development of digital technologies in freight rail transportation.
Photo: akorda.kz
