China and Kazakhstan are discussing
the construction of a natural gas transportation system following
that of an oil pipeline linking the two countries in
December.
This was one of the topics that visiting Vice President Zeng
Qinghong discussed with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
in Astana yesterday.
"I attended the inauguration of the Atasu-Alashankou oil pipeline
last December and we are currently discussing the construction of a
natural gas transportation system," the Kazakh leader was quoted by
RIA Novosti News Agency as saying.
Zeng arrived in the Kazakh capital on Monday on a four-day official
visit and will attend, on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao, at
a swearing-in ceremony today for President Nazarbayev, who has just
been re-elected for a third presidential term.
"To promote the sound development of bilateral ties, the two sides
should expand economic and trade partnerships by improving
investment and pushing for cooperation in significant projects,"
Zeng said.
With oil-rich Kazakhstan looking to increase crude supplies to
China, Nazarbayev praised cooperation in the energy field between
the two nations.
The US$700 million pipeline, with an initial annual capacity of 10
million tons of oil and a full capacity of 20 million tons, is
expected to start operations in May.
Nazarbayev said he hopes the bilateral trade volume could increase
to US$10 billion this year.
According to the official statistics, between January and November
last year, the trade volume between China and Kazakhstan reached
more than US$6.1 billion.
Besides bilateral trade, the two countries have been cooperating
with each other under the framework of the United Nations, the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction
and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
Expressing his appreciation for Kazakhstan's support of China on
questions such as Taiwan, Tibet and its crackdown on "the three
evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, Zeng added
that China will continue to support Kazakhstan's efforts to
safeguard its sovereignty, independence and national
stability.
"No matter how the international and regional situation changes,
China will remain Kazakhstan's good neighbor, sincere friend and
reliable partner," Zeng said, adding that China is willing to work
with Kazakhstan to push the relationship to a new level.
(China Daily January 11, 2006)