Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially landed in the capital of Astana for a high-profile state visit, which is the highest level of diplomatic interaction between the two countries.

This important visit was warmly welcomed directly on the tarmac by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who personally invited him for this important visit.

Two fighter aircraft of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan escorted Putin’s presidential plane into the airspace as they came in.

On arrival, the President’s military band and a youth orchestra performed a welcome to me. A light-blue carpet was lined with children waving the national flags of both countries as an honor guard platoon of all military branches stood at attention.

A Departure from Diplomatic Protocol

It is the 39th official meeting between the two leaders. Notably, it is granted state-visit status for the second time in this term of the President’s rule of Kazakhstan, which is a rare exception from the normal procedure, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

After the reception at the airport, the leaders will head straight to the official residence of the president of Kazakhstan. There, they will have an exclusive meeting with each other at lunch and discuss the prospects for their bilateral relations, TASS quoted the official state news agency as reporting.