A roundtable discussion dedicated to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s State of the Nation Address, entitled “Key Priorities for Kazakhstan in a New Historical Cycle”, was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Moscow.
Russian diplomats and experts discussed the political reforms, economic development priorities and social initiatives outlined by the Head of State, El.kz reports citing Kazakh FM.
Opening the meeting, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia Dauren Abayev noted that the Address had been delivered in the year marking the 35th anniversary of the country’s Independence, against the backdrop of large-scale political transformations.
According to him, the priorities set out by the President will determine the country’s future development trajectory.
Deputy Head of the Presidential Directorate for Strategic Partnership and Cooperation of the Russian Federation Anton Rybakov highlighted the constitutional reform and forthcoming infrastructure projects. He noted that the coming years in Kazakhstan would focus on road construction, the development of social infrastructure and the strengthening of public institutions.
Director of the Third CIS Countries Department of the Russian MFA Alexander Sternik described 2026 as a historic year for Kazakhstan.
“This year has witnessed a landmark referendum, constitutional reform, the formation of a new Parliament and the reorganisation of all levels of government based on the Head of State’s carefully calibrated strategy,” the diplomat stated.
The economic dimension of the Address was discussed by Dmitry Birichevsky, Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasised the importance of bilateral cooperation and highlighted Kazakhstan’s achievements in attracting foreign investment, which, in his assessment, has totalled 150–160 bln dollars in recent years.
“Our geographical location, shared borders, and close partnership and allied relations create the conditions for a win-win situation in which both countries stand to benefit,” Birichevsky said.
Director of the Department for Expert Support of International Projects and Programmes Alexey Vlassov at the Expert Institute for Social Research identified three key concepts underpinning the Address: the people, justice and pragmatism.
“The realism of the goals and objectives set for the state and society is what distinguishes the 2026 Address from many other strategic policy documents,” the expert noted.
In Vlassov's view, the social dimension of the Address reflects the Kazakhstani authorities’ responsiveness to public expectations and societal needs.
Journalist and writer Leonid Mlechin added that President Tokayev receives information about developments in the country from a variety of sources and therefore takes into account the everyday challenges faced by citizens.
Vice-Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) Andrey Margolin highlighted the balanced nature of the President’s initiatives. He noted that the Address approaches the strengthening of Kazakhstan’s sovereignty in conjunction with the development of mutually beneficial international economic relations.
Head of the Centre for Central Asian Studies at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexandra Perminova emphasised the document’s socio-economic focus. According to her, the effectiveness of public institutions and public trust in them largely depend on their ability to address the population’s practical concerns.
The development of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan was another topic addressed during the discussion. Editor-in-Chief of the analytical journal Geoenergetics Boris Martsinkevich noted Kazakhstan’s decision to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy, taking into account the country’s historical experience with nuclear technologies.
The roundtable participants also discussed public administration priorities, infrastructure development and prospects for expanding Kazakhstan’s cooperation with international partners.
