ASTANA. Jan 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a joint statement in Astana on January 9 in which they confirmed their nations' interest in further cooperation in the oil and gas sector.
"The chiefs of state express their common interest in developing fuel and energy cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan, including common development of Northern Caspian fields, interaction in the transit of hydrocarbons to the world markets, and in the electric power industry," reads the statement.
The presidents confirmed their intention to develop and strengthen "military-technical cooperation, viewing it as an important component of strategic partnership to the benefit of regional security."
Putin and Nazarbayev instructed their governments to take measures to improve the legal foundation of military-technical cooperation and draft a program for cooperation in this sphere.
The presidents also pointed to the importance of space cooperation and said "the extension of the Baikonur spaceport lease will increase the efficiency of its operation in the interests of both countries, the resolution of environmental problems, and the introduction of the latest technology."
Putin and Nazarbayev confirmed their determination to expand foreign political cooperation and step up joint efforts to provide regional and world security.
They confirmed the priority of improvement of cooperation within the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Community, and the Single Economic Space.
The presidents spoke in favor of continuing the constructive work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization and working efficiently within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.
Russia and Kazakhstan support the world community's efforts towards stabilizing the internal political and economic situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, the document reads.
The presidents shared their belief that the organization of the Year of Russia in Kazakhstan in 2004 will help improve relations in the interests of both countries.
Putin and Nazarbayev also instructed the two governments to finish drafting a treaty on demarcating of the Russian-Kazakh state border in 2004.