Kazakhstan welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao on his first visit to the country as China's President, on a day when the two countries committed to major energy partnerships.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said the trip proves the strength of China-Kazak relations.

"We treasured President Hu's visit very much,'' he told reporters Tuesday at the press conference after his meeting with Hu.

Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to further strengthen bilateral ties, Nazarbayev said.

During Tuesday's separate meetings with Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov, Hu reaffirmed the new Chinese leadership's policy of developing a stable and long-term friendship with Kazakhstan.

Hu put forward four proposals on the future development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

The first is to further develop mutual trust in the political arena and maintain high-level exchanges.

The second is to enhance economic relations, especially in the field of energy.

Third, China hopes to actively promote bilateral exchanges and contacts in fields ranging from education and culture to science.

Fourth, the countries should co-operate more in world affairs. Hu stressed the importance for the two countries to co-ordinate their policies at international and regional organizations like the United Nations and Shanghai Co-operation Organization.

Echoing Hu's proposals, Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan has always given priority to its partnership with China, adding that the relationship between the two countries contributed greatly to regional stability and security.

After their meeting, the two presidents witnessed the signing of several documents on bilateral co-operation Tuesday.

In a joint statement, Hu and Nazarbayev pointed out that terrorism, separatism and extremism threaten lives as well as regional security and stability. They added that they will join hands to combat the threat, including separatist activities to safeguard peace and stability of the two countries and the region as a whole.

The statement also stressed that trade and economic co-operation is important to bilateral relations and priority be given to energy partnerships.

The countries signed off on two landmark documents Tuesday -- a general agreement on an oil pipeline from Western Kazakhstan to China and an agreement on increasing China's investment in oil and gas in Kazakhstan.

The pipeline project is estimated at US$3 billion to US$3.5 billion. In its first phase, about 1,200 kilometres of pipeline will be laid, capable of handling 10 to 20 million tons of oil a year.

Kazakhstan had become China's second largest trade partner in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), following Russia.

Bilateral trade has grown smoothly in recent years and hit a record of US$1.9 billion last year, according to Chinese customs statistics.

Xing Guangcheng, general secretary of the Chinese Association for East European, Russia and Central Asian Studies, said that economic ties have brought the two countries and peoples substantial benefit, by creating jobs in Kazakhstan and generating revenue for both sides.

Xing said there is still potential for expanding economic relations between China and Kazakhstan, for example, by improving cross-border transport.

China could become a major transit point for Kazakh products entering South and East Asian markets, while it could tap the European market through Kazakhstan, the expert said.

During Tuesday's meeting, Hu also briefed Nazarbayev on China's fight against SARS, saying it had taken strict measures to prevent the infection from spreading into other countries.

Nazarbayev revealed that Kazakhstan is ready to provide equipment and medicines to China for patients infected with SARS.

Later Tuesday, Hu also met Oralbay Abdikarimov, chairman of the upper chamber of the parliament of Kazakhstan, and Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, speaker of the lower chamber.

On Wednesday, Hu will leave Astana for Mongolia, the last leg of his trip which has also taken him to Moscow, St Petersburg and Evian.

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