Diplomatic relations between Russia and Kazakhstan were established on October 22, 1992. Bilateral cooperation is regulated by an extensive legal base of more than 300 agreements and contracts. The basic agreements include the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed on May 25, 1992, and the Declaration on Everlasting Friendship for the 21st Century dated July 6, 1998.

The two countries maintain intensive political contacts at the top state level. On December 10, 2010, the Russian and Kazakh presidents signed a joint action plan for 2011-2012. The strategic document identifies the primary goals of bilateral cooperation. The presidents also meet at the conferences of CIS heads of state and government and at other major forums and engage in regular telephone conversations. Contacts are maintained at the level of the heads of state and government and the heads of executive power bodies.

Russia and Kazakhstan have similar views on central international and regional issues. This serves as a strong base for cooperation in the international arena, including the UN and its specialised bodies, the OSCE and other international forums. The foreign policy ministries of the two countries maintain close contact.  

In the economic sphere, bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan is developing on the basis of the Economic Cooperation Programme for 2012-2020, which was signed on November 25, 2011 in Astana.

According to the Russian Customs Service, the trade between the two countries increased in 2011 by 30.6% to $19.8 billion. Russian exports increased by 20.7% to $12.9 billion and imports from Kazakhstan increased by 54.2% to $6.9 billion

In January-October 2011, mineral products (33%), metals and metal products (11.2%), chemical products, rubber (5.9%), foodstuffs, and farming sector products (3.6%) made up a significant share of Russia's exports to Kazakhstan.

Major imported goods from Kazakhstan in January-October 2011 included mineral products (54%), metals and metal products (20.8%), chemical products, rubber (11.1%), machinery, equipment, and transport vehicles (1.5%).

The fuel and energy sector is a major sphere of economic collaboration. Cooperative relations are also developing in the power engineering industry where Russian and Kazakh energy systems work in parallel, in the nuclear industry through joint uranium mining in Kazakhstan, and in the oil and gas sphere as Kazakh oil is transported through Russia, Kazakh natural gas is purchased and marketed for third-party countries, and joint hydrocarbon development projects are implemented in the north Caspian Sea region.

Russia and Kazakhstan also cooperate in space exploration. Russia leases the Baikonur Space Centre complex in central Kazakhstan and the lease agreement has been prolonged through 2050 in January 2004. Bilateral intergovernmental agreements signed in 2004 and 2005 envisage the construction of the Kazakh Baiterek space launch complex in Baikonur.

Russia and Kazakhstan cooperate in the military and military technical sphere as well. Russia exports weapons to Kazakhstan and provides assistance in Kazakh military equipment repairs and modernisation. The Kazakh military are also trained at Russian military training institutions.

Russia and Kazakhstan similarly participate in the negotiations between Caspian Sea states on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. In July 1998, Kazakhstan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of the north Caspian seabed to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use. On Jan. 25, 2006, the Russian and Kazakh presidents signed a protocol amending the agreement on the delimitation of the north Caspian seabed to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use dated July 6, 1998.

Russia-Kazakhstan interregional forums involving the heads of state take place every year.

Border delimitation between Russia and Kazakhstan has been completed. The length of the state border is 7,500 kilometres. The Russia-Kazakhstan state border agreement was signed on Jan. 18, 2005 in Moscow. Border demarcation is now under way.

Russia and Kazakhstan also cooperate within the CIS and other integration systems, such as the CSTO, EurAsEC, SCO and CICMA. In 2010, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus formed the Customs Union. The Common Economic Space was launched on Jan. 1, 2012, boosting integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The countries are steadily moving towards the Eurasian Economic Union. In November 2011, the Russian, Belarusian and Kazakh presidents signed a declaration on Eurasian Economic Integration and an agreement on the Eurasian Economic Commission and its regulations.

The Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan was established in Astana in June 2004. Almaty is home to the Russian Consulate General. There is also the Russian Consulate in Uralsk and another Consulate General will soon open in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Apart from the Kazakh Embassy in Moscow, Kazakhstan also has the Consulate General in St. Perersburg and consulates in Astrakhan and Omsk.