Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji held talks in Astana with his
Kazakhstanian counterpart Kasymzhomart Tokayev on boosting
bilateral trade and economic cooperation Wednesday afternoon, only
two hours after his arrival in the capital of this central Asian
country.
Zhu said China-Kazakhstan relations have been developing smoothly
since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 10 years ago. He
said the good working relations and personal friendship President
Jiang Zemin has established with Kazakhstanian President Nursultan
Nazarbayev help enhance the mutual trust and mutual respect between
the two sides in politics. The two sides enjoy broad consensus not
only in developing bilateral relations but also on international
and regional issues.
The good political relations between the two countries fueled the
development of their trade and economic cooperation. As a result,
bilateral trade volume increased from US$370 million in 1992 to
US$1.5 billion last year.
The Chinese premier said that the two economies are highly
complementary to each other and there are huge potentials and broad
prospects for their cooperation in oil and gas drilling, the
utilization of water resources of cross-boarder rivers as well as
transportation.
Zhu also noted that cultural exchanges, which play an irreplaceable
role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the
two peoples, are an important part of the friendly relations of
cooperation between the two countries. He said the two sides have
signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and three cultural
exchange programs. The Chinese government, as it always does, will
make efforts to increase the two countries' exchanges and
cooperation in the field of culture.
Zhu stressed that the six documents signed by both sides following
his talks with Tokayev were the results of the broad consensus
reached by the two sides in a wide range of areas.
Tokayev told Zhu he shared his views on expanding bilateral trade
and economic cooperation, adding that his government attaches great
importance to Zhu's visit and is confident that the visit will
promote the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan-China cooperation has broad prospects, and
that the various departments of his government are willing to push
forward bilateral co-operation with China in trade, culture and all
other areas on the basis of mutual trust.
He
told Premier Zhu that Kazakhstan continues to support China in its
stance on the Taiwan question, and maintains that there is only one
China and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate
government of China, and thus Taiwan is an inseparable part of
China. He promised that Kazakhstan will not develop official
relations with Taiwan in any form.
Following their talks, the two prime ministers signed a joint
communique and an agreement on the utilization and protection of
cross-boarder rivers. Their ministers inked an agreement on the
avoidance of double taxation on income, the exchange of letters on
China's providing of assistance to Kazakhstan, an agreement on the
cooperation in seismic study and another on health cooperation.
(People’s
Daily 09/13/2001)