( RT ) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken part in a forum of Governors of the Russia-Kazakhstan border regions. The annual meeting of the leaders of 12 Russian and 7 Kazakh regions is seen as vital for co-operation.
Both Vladimir Putin and the Kazakh, President Nursultan Nazarbayev, have visited this fourth annual meeting that focused this time on high technology.
Speaking at the forum President Putin praised Russia-Kazakh co-operation.
"Growing interest towards the forum from the business and social structures of the bordering territories is conditioned in the first place by the high-level of the Russia-Kazakhstan partnership. And of course, by the sincere interest of the people to develop closer contacts and just be good old friends and neighbors as they should be. Interregional and border contacts between Russia and Kazakhstan contribute significantly to the overall growth of the bilateral economic cooperation. Only for the first seven months of this year mutual trade turnover increased by 40% percent, exceeding $US 9 BLN," Mr Putin said.