Vladimir Putin called Tatarstan one of the leading regions in terms of trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan

On September 16, Interim President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov took part at a plenary session of the 12th forum of interregional cooperation of Russia and Kazakhstan in Sochi, where Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Tatarstan is one of the leading regions in terms of trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan.

Vladimir Putin welcomed participants of the forum and said that annual meetings with heads of regions had become traditional, and they played an important role in development of multi-faceted strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan. Heads of 28 Russian and Kazakhstan regions took part in the event.

Putin continued that the forum had been held since 2003, and during this time the trade turnover between the regions increased six times and made 21 bln US dollars last year.

The forum was dedicated to one of the most important areas of interregional cooperation, development of bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food safety in both countries. Russia and Kazakhstan have got wide experience of join work in agricultural sector, and production of mineral fertilizers and food is a priority area.