Taxes and BRICS: What Toqayev and Matvienko Discussed

On the evening of December 11, a delegation from Russia arrived in Astana on an official visit, Orda.kz reports, citing the press services of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. 

Chairperson of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, met with the President of Kazakhstan, Qasym-Jomart Toqayev, and Senate Chair Maulen Ashimbayev. The parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation and recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Astana. 

The relationship between our countries is developing in an upward direction. President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin recently paid a state visit to our country. A serious impetus was given to the further development of strategic partnership and alliance between our countries. I am very optimistic about the future of our cooperation, Toqayev noted. 

Valentina Matviyenko emphasized Kazakhstan's role in international alliances (EAEU, CSTO, CIS, SCO, and UN). She hinted at strengthening its position in the BRICS, which Kazakhstan had previously opted not to join.

We welcome Kazakhstan's interest in BRICS, she emphasized.  

Matviyenko's statement indicates Moscow's growing interest in promoting Astana internationally as a strategic partner. 

According to Maulen Ashimbayev, Kazakhstan's parliamentarians are interested in exchanging experience with Russia in two key areas: 

• Tax reform - changes in legislation to stimulate business and optimize taxes.
• Agricultural sector - study of successful Russian practices in agricultural development and implementation of joint projects.

Russia is a key political and economic partner of Kazakhstan. Cooperation in all areas is developing steadily and dynamically, Ashimbayev said. 

Valentina Matviyenko, in turn, noted that relations between the two countries have reached an unprecedented level, emphasizing the importance of strengthening them further.

Whatever area we take: mutual trade, investments, major projects in industry, energy, cooperation in agriculture, these are real examples of a strong strategic partnership and alliance between our countries, concluded Matvienko. 

She also proposed updating the cooperation agreement between the upper houses of parliament, which has been in force since 2012, and strengthening ties between the regions of both countries.

Original Author: Alina Pak