Economic cooperation with Russia remains important for Central Asia despite claims about its diminishing role in the region. Trade and in-vestment partnership with Russia significantly contribute to the region’s economic performance. A country-by-country analysis shows that Russia’s bilateral economic relations with Kazakhstan are historically strong. It plays an important role in Kyrgyzstan in both political and economic terms. Russia has deepened its economic ties with Uzbekistan, which recently obtained an observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union.
