Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to achieve new progress in bilateral ties.

He made the remark in a written interview with reporters from Kazakhstan and Russia.

Hu said China is ready to work with Kazakhstan, in light of the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit and as always, to increase good-neighbor relations, deepen mutual trust, and improve cooperation mechanism so as to deepen pragmatic cooperation in economy and trade, energy and non-resources sectors.

Hu pointed out that with the two sides' joint efforts, relations between China and Kazakhstan have maintained healthy and steady growth momentum since the two countries established diplomatic ties 20 years ago.

"It is worth noting that bilateral relations have achieved new rapid progress since the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries in July 2005," he said.

According to Hu, the two countries have achieved a comprehensive solution for the two countries' boundary problems left over by history with the signing of Sino-Kazakhstan Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. The two countries also established Strategies of Cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the 21st Century, and set up an inter-governmental cooperation committee at the vice premier level.

Chinese-Kazakhstan trade hit 20.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, 50 times the trade volume during early years of the two countries' diplomatic relations. The practical cooperation between the two countries has brought both peoples real benefits.

Hu said the two countries have given firm support to each other on major issues concerning the other side's core interest, and have had effective cooperation in cracking down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and transnational organized crimes.

China and Kazakhstan has kept close coordination and cooperation in the multilateral framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and thus safeguarded and promoted the regional and world peace, stability and development, said Hu. "China is satisfied with current growth of bilateral relations and confident about its prospect."

As members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors and important strategic partners. Developing a long-term stable and comprehensive strategic partnership is a common wish of the peoples of both countries and meets the two sides' practical and long-term interests, Hu said.

"China highly values the relationship with Kazakhstan and is always committed to enhancing friendly cooperation with Kazakhstan at all levels to improve bilateral ties. When both countries are carrying out the five- year plan new opportunities are created for both counties.

"China is going to enhance practical cooperation in the economy and trade, energy and other areas while increasing multilateral coordination and security cooperation with Kazakhstan," Hu said.

When answering the question about his expectation and possible results of the visit to Kazakhstan, Hu said he will hold talks with president Nazarbayev and met with Prime Minister Karim Masimov. "I am willing to review the progress and fruits of bilateral ties with Kazakhstan leadership and together make plans for further development of bilateral ties. I hope to exchange views with them on the development of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Central Asia situation and other major international and regional issues of common concern," he said.

Hu told the press that during his visit a joint political document will be released and bilateral agreements for cooperation in economy and trade, finance and environmental protection will also be made.

"We have reasons to believe that my visit will be a success under China-Kazakhstan joint efforts and will inject vigor into sustainable, stable and comprehensive development of bilateral ties," Hu said.