Inter-regional and cross-border cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan: main priorities
Importance The paper deals with the development of inter-regional and cross-border cooperation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan’s regions as an integrated part of inter-State relations. The importance of the study of this problem arises from the fact that the current integration processes between Russia and Kazakhstan have reached a qualitatively new level. With the countries’ participation, the Customs Union has been created and is actively functioning. The agreement on establishing the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC), which entered into force in January 2015, has been signed. The regions of the two countries are aimed to play a significant role within these organizations. Importance The paper reveals the content of the priorities of the Russia-Kazakhstan border cooperation at the present stage. Given the stated purpose, the article considers the following aspects of the problem: the nature of activities of actors of the Russia-Kazakhstan inter-regional and cross-border cooperation, their priorities while choosing the forms and areas of cooperation, and the evaluation of results of the interaction. Methods In our paper, we analyzed the Russia-Kazakhstan inter-regional and cross-border cooperation at the national, regional and local levels by using the systematic approach and comparative, historical, and statistical methods. The article describes the content of the main areas of its development at the present stage, including economy, solving social and humanitarian problems, challenges of combating illegal migration, international crime, cooperation in preventing emergency situations and mitigation of their consequences. Results We conclude that the economic cooperation is a key element. In this area, the countries give special importance to industrial cooperation between enterprises of the border areas and inland regions of Russia and Kazakhstan. Conclusions and Relevance The economic cooperation is considered as an important task of the economic integration process between the two countries, and as a significant factor of improving the national business competitiveness in the global markets.