the shanghai cooperation organization - are high on the list of priorities for prime minister karim massimov. >>reporter: who recently signed a customs union with russia and belorussia creating a trading bloc of 170 million people. but this may just be the beginning >>massimov: i think the custom union and the sco can also be partnering. it will be a good opportunity for all the members of the custom union and sco for the increased the market. but competitiveness is number one priority. >>reporter: with the centre for economic growth and political influence shifting east... kazakhstan is well positioned... taking advantage of its strategic location. >>newton: the kazakhs have been extraordinarily skilful at playing a regional and international game with the us, europe, russia and china. and alone among states in the region - or one might say states anywhere - they seem to enjoy superb relations with all those players which again is something of a testament to kazakhstan's and the president's diplomatic skills, ingenuity and cleverness. >>antonenko: kazakhstan is a country which doesn't have

the shanghai cooperation organization - are high on the list of priorities for prime minister karim massimov. >>reporter: who recently signed a customs union with russia and belorussia creating a trading bloc of 170 million people. but this may just be the beginning >>massimov: i think the custom union and the sco can also be partnering. it will be a good opportunity for all the members of the custom union and sco for the increased the market. but competitiveness is number one priority. >>reporter: with the centre for economic growth and political influence shifting east... kazakhstan is well positioned... taking advantage of its strategic location. the kazakhs have been extraordinarily skilful at playing a regional and international game with the us, europe, russia and china. and alone among states in the region - or one might say states anywhere - they seem to enjoy superb relations with all those players which again is something of a testament to kazakhstan's and the president's diplomatic skills, ingenuity and cleverness. >>antonenko: kazakhstan is a country which doesn't have any enemie