Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji held talks in Astana with his Kazakhstanian counterpart Kasymzhomart Tokayev on boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation Wednesday afternoon, only two hours after his arrival in the capital of this central Asian country.

Zhu said China-Kazakhstan relations have been developing smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 10 years ago. He said the good working relations and personal friendship President Jiang Zemin has established with Kazakhstanian President Nursultan Nazarbayev help enhance the mutual trust and mutual respect between the two sides in politics. The two sides enjoy broad consensus not only in developing bilateral relations but also on international and regional issues.

The good political relations between the two countries fueled the development of their trade and economic cooperation. As a result, bilateral trade volume increased from US$370 million in 1992 to US$1.5 billion last year.

The Chinese premier said that the two economies are highly complementary to each other and there are huge potentials and broad prospects for their cooperation in oil and gas drilling, the utilization of water resources of cross-boarder rivers as well as transportation.

Zhu also noted that cultural exchanges, which play an irreplaceable role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, are an important part of the friendly relations of cooperation between the two countries. He said the two sides have signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and three cultural exchange programs. The Chinese government, as it always does, will make efforts to increase the two countries' exchanges and cooperation in the field of culture.

Zhu stressed that the six documents signed by both sides following his talks with Tokayev were the results of the broad consensus reached by the two sides in a wide range of areas.

Tokayev told Zhu he shared his views on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation, adding that his government attaches great importance to Zhu's visit and is confident that the visit will promote the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Tokayev said Kazakhstan-China cooperation has broad prospects, and that the various departments of his government are willing to push forward bilateral co-operation with China in trade, culture and all other areas on the basis of mutual trust.

He told Premier Zhu that Kazakhstan continues to support China in its stance on the Taiwan question, and maintains that there is only one China and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China, and thus Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. He promised that Kazakhstan will not develop official relations with Taiwan in any form.

Following their talks, the two prime ministers signed a joint communique and an agreement on the utilization and protection of cross-boarder rivers. Their ministers inked an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation on income, the exchange of letters on China's providing of assistance to Kazakhstan, an agreement on the cooperation in seismic study and another on health cooperation.

(People’s Daily 09/13/2001)