Kazakh president calls for expanded cooperation with China

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli meets with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, April 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

During his meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev on Monday, Zhang called on both sides to give full play of the role of the dialogue on production capacity and investment, enhance information communication and policy coordination, and expand economic and trade cooperation.

He encouraged the two sides to forge ahead the signing of the new version of investment protection treaty and strengthen cooperation in areas including financing, agriculture, animal husbandry, connectivity and customs.

The two sides need to cement energy cooperation, managing well the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and natural gas pipeline, Zhang said.

Zhang also called for a consensus at an early date on the detailed plan of hosting the Chinese Year of Tourism in Kazakhstan this year.

Sagintayev said Kazakhstan attaches great importance to bilateral ties with China, calling on both sides to enhance innovation cooperation in order to realize a two-way trade volume of US$40 billion in 2020.

According to Chinese Ministry of Commerce, up till the end of 2016, China is the second largest export market and the first largest import source of Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is China's biggest trade partner in Central Asia and China's biggest investment destination in the Eurasia region.

Also on Monday, Zhang co-chaired the eighth meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee with Kazakhstan First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin.

The two witnessed via video link the rolling-off of the final assembly line of Chinese Ankai coaches, a model project of bilateral production capacity here in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is the last leg of Zhang's nine-day Eurasia visit starting from April 11. The trip also took him to Russia, Estonia, Slovenia and Albania.