Kazakhstan, Astana, March 30 / Trend , K.Arinova/
Kazakh Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin began an official visit to China on March 29, the ministry's press office said in a message.
"Tazhin will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Deputy Chairman Si Zinpin," the office said.
Bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and humanitarian sectors will be discussed during the negotiations, as well as progress implementing agreements reached at various summits.
Tazhin's visit to China will be an important event promoting the Kazakh-Chinese strategic partnership.
Diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China were established on Jan. 3, 1992, the ministry said.
China ranks fourth among Kazakh trade partners. China's share in Kazakhstan's foreign trade tops 10 percent. Kazakhstan is China's second trading partner in the CIS after Russia. According to Chinese customs statistics, mutual trade hit $17.55 billion in 2008, or a 26.5-percent rise from 2007. Kazakh exports hit $7.73 billion and imports - $9.82 billion.
According to the statistics, trade turnover was $ 12.24 billion in 2008.
Kazakhstan-China negotiations on Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO were successfully completed in August 2005. A relevant protocol was signed.
China's investments in the Kazakh economy have amounted to roughly $9 billion.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]