On the afternoon of February 22, 2011, President Hu Jintao held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is on a state visit to China. The two heads of state spoke highly of the outcome of bilateral ties, agreeing to join hands to push China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership to high levels.
Hu said bilateral relations have witnessed a strong momentum of all-round, rapid development in recent years, pointing to close high-level exchanges, political mutual support and mutual trust. Both sides have made remarkable achievements in cooperation on economy, trade, energy, non-resources and humanities and strengthened strategic coordination in international and regional affairs. China attaches great importance to ties with Kazakhstan and it is an unswerving policy of China to develop China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership of long-term stability, good-neighborly friendship and win-win cooperation. This policy will remain unchanged despite the vicissitudes in the international situation.
Nazarbayev said the two countries share the tradition of close friendship. Since the establishment of strategic partnership, political mutual trust has been increased, pragmatic cooperation in all areas has made substantial progress and the friendship between both peoples has been deepened with the promotion of the two heads of state. The two countries share identical or similar views on major international and regional issues and have supported each other on major issues concerning their respective core interests, he said. To develop bilateral ties enjoys a solid political and legal foundation, he said, adding Kazakhstan adheres to the one-China policy.
Hu said China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to enhance bilateral strategic partnership in the following four aspects. First, deepen China-Kazakhstan political relations. The leaders, governments, legislative bodies and parties of the two countries should maintain close exchanges. Both sides should strengthen bilateral cooperation and dialogue mechanism building, deepen strategic communication, build strategic mutual trust and continue firm support on major issues concerning their respective core interests. Second, advance China-Kazakhstan pragmatic cooperation. Both sides should ensure the safe, stable and effective operation of the China-Kazakhstan oil and gas pipelines, speed up the construction of the second stage of the Sino-Kazakh Crude Oil Pipeline Phase 2 Project, the Phase II of Sino-Kazakh Natural Gas Pipeline Project, transportation cooperation projects and interconnection projects, expand cooperation on non-resources, clean energy, high and new technology and finance and explore regional exchanges and cooperation. Both sides should also study the possibility of building industrial parks and agricultural technology demonstration centers in Kazakhstan. Hu urged both sides to take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to expand bilateral humanities exchanges and cooperation and further cement the material and social basis of Sino-Kazakh friendship. Third, keep enhancing China-Kazakhstan security cooperation. Both sides should strengthen efforts to combat the “three evil forces”, earnestly protect the life and property safety of citizens, businesses and institutions of the two countries and create a sound environment for economic and social development of the two countries. Fourth, deepen China-Kazakhstan international and regional cooperation. China supports Kazakhstan to play a greater role in international and regional affairs and is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with Kazakhstan within multilateral frameworks to jointly promote peace and development of mankind.
Echoing President Hu’s proposals on furthering bilateral ties, Nazarbayev said bilateral relations are facing important opportunities for further development. Kazakhstan is ready to work with China to lift the level of bilateral cooperation and further develop all-round strategic partnership. Kazakhstan takes China as an important priority of developing foreign relations and would like to maintain high-level exchanges with China, expand pragmatic cooperation on economy, trade, energy, non-resources, humanities and security and further boost coordination in international and regional affairs, in a bid to push forward Kazakhstan-China strategic partnership.
On the domestic situation in Kazakhstan, Hu said China always respects the development path independently chosen by the Kazakh people and spoke highly of Kazakhstan’s achievements in national development. China supports the Kazakh government’s domestic and foreign policies and its efforts to improve people’s welfare. Hu believed that the Kazakh people will surely build their own country even better.
The two heads of state also exchanged views on the SCO, the regional situation as well as other major international and regional issues and reached broad consensus.
Following the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents.
Prior to the talks, President Hu held a welcoming ceremony for Nazarbayev’s visit at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Han Qide, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC Ablet Abduréshit, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy Zhu Yongxin, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Sheng Guangzu, secretary of the Ministry of Railways Communist Party leadership group, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhou Li and other officials attended the welcoming ceremony.