Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday told visiting Kazakh President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev that China-Kazakhstan ties are faring well, and their trade and economic cooperation is developing rapidly.

Statistics show that bilateral trade volume toped US$3.3 billion last year, up 68 percent over the previous year. The first quarter of this year saw their trade surging even greater, up 87.7 percent year-on-year.

Wen said the China-Kazakhstan trade and economic cooperation has a bright prospect, hoping they will explore new spheres and channels of cooperation to expand mutual investment.

The premier also praised their agreement on energy cooperation, saying enhancing cooperation in the field conforms to the interests of both sides and they should strive to ensure the projects go smoothly.

He stressed that China values its ties with Kazakhstan, and is ready to promote their good-neighborly friendship and reciprocal cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, trust, and benefit.

Nazarbayev said that during his visit the two nations signed a series of cooperation agreement on trade, energy and communication and formed cooperation commission and entrepreneurs' council, which will lay a sound basis for the further development of trade and economic ties.

He said the Kazakh government is dedicated to developing the all-round ties with China, willing to actively participate in China's economic construction, in developing its vast western area in particular. He also invited Chinese enterprises to invest in his country

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2004)