Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli meets with Kazakhstan First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin in Nanning, capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Sept 11, 2017.[Photo/Xinhua]
NANNING — China and Kazakhstan held their first forum on local cooperation on Sept 11 in the Southern China city of Nanning, agreeing to further lift bilateral economic ties.
Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli and Kazakhstan First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin attended the forum, held on the sidelines of the annual expo, business and investment summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Hailing fruitful cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in recent years, Zhang said in his speech that local cooperation between the two countries enjoys great potential.
He encouraged the two countries to make use of the opportunities of Belt and Road construction to consolidate cooperation in the areas of energy, resources, agriculture, cross-border transportation, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges, lift the quality of industrial cooperation and create new modes of cooperation.
Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli addresses a forum on local cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in Nanning, capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Sept 11, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
Kazakhstan took part in this year’s China-ASEAN Expo as a special partner.
During a meeting before the forum, Zhang told Mamin that China welcomes Kazakhstan as a special partner of the expo.
Stressing that China attaches great importance to the ties with Kazakhstan, Zhang said the two countries need to implement the consensus reached by the two presidents and resolve questions in cooperation via consultation.
He called on the two countries to strengthen connectivity and promote the development of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Frontier Cooperation Center to raise the comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.
Mamin expressed appreciation for the opportunity to attend the China-ASEAN Expo and display Kazakh products.