Kazakhstan, Astana, June 13 /Trend, A.Maratov/
The cooperation between Kazakhstan and China has reached a level of strategic partnership, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Monday after talks with the Chinese delegation.
"Today we officially declare our strategic partnership on a comprehensive level," said Nazarbayev.
The Chinese delegation headed by President Hu Jintao has been on a visit to Astana since June 12. On Monday, the leaders of Kazakhstan and China had private and expanded meetings.
Nazarbayev described China as the leading investment partner of Kazakhstan. Last year, the bilateral trade amount exceeded $27 billion and in the first quarter of 2011 the trade turnover reached $5 billion. Also in 2010, China ranked the first for exports to Kazakhstan, he said.
In turn, President Hu Jintao said that both sides aim to increase trade turnover to $40 billion by 2015.
Nazarbayev described strategically important the joint energy projects with China, including the second phase of the Kazakh-Chinese Beineu-Shymkent gas pipeline, increasing capacity of Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline, upgrading refineries and Moynak hydroelectric power station.
The Chinese leader described the settlement of the border issue, the signing of a treaty on good neighborliness as the joint achievements.Hu Jintao said he was glad with the success of Kazakhstan reached over 20 years of independence.
"I am deeply convinced that under your leadership the government and people of Kazakhstan will certainly achieve even more noticeable and striking successes in strengthening of statehood," he said.