Hu proposes measures to boost cooperation with Kazakhstan
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Chinese President Hu Jintao met Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov in Astana Tuesday morning and raised a six-point proposal to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
Hu, who is on a state visit in Astana and to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said the two countries should strengthen planning and guidance first.
Secondly, Hu said the two countries should strengthen trade, investment and financial cooperation, with the target of increasing bilateral trade volume to 40 billion U.S. dollars by 2015. He said they should look at establishing a free trade zone agreement, encourage and protect mutual investment, push forward currency swaps and trade settlement in local currencies, and develop more cooperative projects.
Thirdly, Hu said they should deepen cooperation in energy, safely operating existing oil and natural gas pipelines and constructing new China-Kazakhstan pipelines.
Fourthly, Hu said the two countries should also cooperate in non-resource based industries. China was willing to cooperate with Kazakhstan in hi-tech, energy-efficient and environment-friendly industries, he said.
Hu's fifth measure was to expand cooperation in transportation through construction of highways, railways and cyber cables across the region.
Finally, Hu said the two countries should also deepen agricultural cooperation.
Hu said the two countries should hold a series of activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of signing of the Good-neighborly Treaty of China-Kazakhstan Friendship and Cooperation next year.
For his part, Masimov said Hu and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev had held a very successful meeting Monday and reached important consensus on developing a comprehensive strategic partnership and advancing pragmatic cooperation. He said the government of Kazakhstan was eager to implement the consensus.
Masimov said the coming SCO summit and the anniversary of official ties between the two countries brought new opportunities for further development of bilateral relations. He said Kazakhstan was ready to work with China to further expand bilateral cooperation on technological innovation, railway construction, energy and finance.
Masimov said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and member of the G20, played an important and constructive role in regional and international affairs.
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