Sino-Kazak strategic partnership set up
By Hu Qihua (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-05 06:02

ASTANA: China and Kazakhstan announced the establishment of a "strategic partnership" yesterday, expressing their determination to work for closer ties both in regional and international frameworks.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (L) and Chinese President Hu Jintao inspect a guard of honour as they meet in Astana, July 3, 2005. [Reuters]

Kazakhstan is willing to work with China in broad fields, such as reform of the United Nations and regional security, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev told reporters after his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is on his second visit to the country.

During yesterday's separate meetings with Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov, Hu reaffirmed China's consistent policy to develop a long-term friendship with Kazakhstan.

On economic and trade relations, Hu suggested more efforts be made to optimize trade structures, adding that emphasis should be placed on boosting energy, high-technology, transportation, agriculture and telecommunications co-operation.

Hu expressed China's support for Kazakhstan's early entry to the World Trade Organization.

At the conclusion of Hu's visit, the two presidents witnessed the signing of a raft of agreements yesterday after their meeting, including those on finance, natural resources, and transportation.

In a joint statement of strategic relations, the two heads of state noted that terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a severe threat to the lives of local people, as well as to regional security and stability.

Meanwhile, the two heads of state stressed that the strategic partnership is not directed against any third party.

Both sides will fully support the construction of an oil pipeline linking Atasu in Kazakhstan to the Alataw Pass in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and promote a feasibility study on a gas pipeline linking the two nations, says the statement.

Kazakhstan has become China's second largest trading partner in the CIS following Russia. Bilateral trade hit a record US$ 4.5 billion last year, up 37 per cent on the previous year.

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