China, Kazakhstan vow to further enhance co-op

BEIJING—China and Kazakhstan pledged to boost bilateral cooperation and enhance strategic partnership on Wednesday.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with visiting Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov Wednesday afternoon, during which they agreed that relations had entered a new stage of full development with frequent high-level exchanges, deepening political mutual trust and remarkable cooperation achieved under the strategic partnership established in 2005.
They also agreed that the two countries supported each other on major issues concerning state sovereignty, territorial integrity and social stability as well as collaborating in international and regional affairs. The two leaders witnessed signing of a series agreements including a joint communique after the bilateral talks.
The agreements mainly concerned cooperation in non-resource economy, finance, agriculture, electricity and hydropower. Wen said China regarded Kazakhstan as a friendly neighbor and important cooperation partner and was ready to join with it to enrich the strategic cooperation and promote regional peace and development.
Wen proposed to further strengthen coordination to ensure the smooth construction of the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and China-Kazakhstan natural gas pipeline projects, earnestly implement the agreement on non-resource economy and encourage bilateral investment, increase customs clearance capacity, quicken road construction, and step up exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science, technology and sport.
China was willing to enhance cooperation with Kazakhstan under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to promote cooperation in the fields of politics, security and economy, said Wen. Masimov said his country attached importance to oil and gas exploration and cooperation in non-resource economy with China. Kazakhstan would improve infrastructure construction in ports, realize railway and highway connections as soon as possible, enhance cooperation in customs and banking in order to advance trade and personnel exchanges between the two countries.
Masimov also said Kazakhstan was ready to cooperate with China in law enforcement and security, fight “the three forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism and push forward the development of SCO. Kazakhstan adhered to the one-China policy and supported the Beijing Olympic Games. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev would attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics, Masimov said.
China’s top legislator Wu Bangguo also met Masimov the same day. Wu appreciated Kazakh support for Beijing Olympic Games saying that Olympic flame was warmly welcomed by the Kazakh government and people when it arrived in Almaty of Kazakhstan.

—Xinhua