Visiting Vice President Zeng Qinghong Wednesday called for substantiation of the strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan.

 

In a meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, Zeng said China regards Kazakhstan as an important strategic partner.

 

The bilateral relationship is faced with a new opportunity of development which both countries should fully embrace in order to explore new ways of cooperation and enrich the strategic partnership, Zeng said.

 

Zeng is in Astana for an official visit during which he will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

 

Akhmetov expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation between China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the energy company PetroKazakhstan (PK), and also the construction of the whole China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline.

 

There still exists a big potential for energy cooperation between the two countries, Akhmetov pointed out, hoping that they could expand cooperation especially on economy, trade and energy.

 

Also on Tuesday, Zeng met with Chairman of Kazakhstan Senate (upper house) N. Abykaev, chairman of the Mazhlis (lower house of parliament) Ural Muhamedzanov, and Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev during various parts of the day.

 

While meeting with the two Kazakh parliament leaders, Zeng said the National People's Congress of China (NPC) is willing to strengthen cooperation and increase exchanges with the Kazakh parliament.

 

Both the NPC and the Kazakh parliament are playing an important role in the political life in their respective country, Zeng said, adding that their exchange of visits is conducive to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship.

 

Abykaev said Kazakhstan attaches great importance to and highly appraises the good-neighborly friendly bilateral relationship and their cooperation on international and regional issues.

 

The two countries should continue to be dedicated to important cooperation projects in a bid to push forward the development of bilateral relations, Abykaev added.

 

Muhamedzanov, during his meeting with Zeng, noted that the Kazakh parliament supports the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, trade, security and humanities for common development as both countries are devoted to economic development.

 

He expressed his hope that the two parliaments would increase their exchange of visits to make more contributions to the development of Kazakhstan-China relations under the guidelines set by Kazakh President Nazarbayev and President Hu Jintao.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)