Russia: Putin and Kazakh President Nazarbayev talk trade and agriculture in Sochi

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev held bilateral talks ahead of the XII Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Sochi on Wednesday. The two leaders covered a range of topics during the meeting, including the Eurasian Economic Union, (EEU), as well as cooperation in agriculture and security. Putin referenced bilateral tourism between the two countries, expressing his hope that Kazakh people would start to see Sochi as a potential holiday resort after seeing broadcasts from the Black Sea coastal city during the Winter Olympics last year. Addressing financial collaboration, Nazarbayev stated that although there had been a fall in export priced and decreases in trade, both countries were working to solve their respective economic challenges. The Kazakh leader also added that he was looking forward to Putin’s upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan. Putin is set to arrive in Kazakhstan in the middle of October for a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).