China and Kazakhstan agree to enhance co-op

Tashkent --- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov agreed on Friday that the two countries should enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation on economy and trade.

Wen said Kazakhstan is a good neighbor and an important partner of China. The establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries is in the fundamental interests of their peoples and conducive to peace, stability and joint development in the region.

Masimov said that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to its relations with China and the country wishes to enhance their bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

The two prime ministers agreed that as close neighbors with economies highly complementary to each other, China and Kazakhstan enjoy unique advantages and huge potential for developing cooperation of mutual benefit. The two countries should make the most of these advantages to deepen and expand practical cooperation.

The two leaders also reached consensus that both countries should implement cooperation projects such as natural gas exploration and pipeline construction and extend their cooperation to areas other than energy production.

Efforts should be made to simplify procedures to facilitate economic and trade cooperation and personnel exchange, they said.

The two leaders were here to attend the sixth meeting of the prime ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Source: Xinhua, 2 Nov, Tashkent --- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/03/content_7002320.htm