Vladimir Putin's opening address:
Vladimir Putin: Thank you again for the opportunity to discuss our international relations. Let me say up front that we regard Kazakhstan as our closest ally. Our cooperation concerns many areas but in particular the economy.
We have diversified our economic relations involving raw materials, engineering, energy, high technologies and space projects. We have an extensive agenda, and I will be glad to discuss the entire range of issues during our meeting, in an eye-to-eye talk with you, and with the President.