Photo:VCG

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday said that energy cooperation is the cornerstone of practical cooperation between China and Kazakhstan, and it is hoped that Kazakhstan will ensure the stable supply of gas to China in accordance with the contract and increase its gas supply in winter as much as possible.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov via video link on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Energy cooperation is an important area of China-Kazakhstan economic cooperation and the premier's latest remarks aim to foster additional gas supplies from the Central Asian nation to guarantee China's energy supply security during winter, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors and the bilateral relationship has made substantial headway since the two countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, benefiting both countries and peoples, Li said during the meeting.

China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to strengthen high-level exchanges and communication at all levels, enhance the docking of developmental strategies and deepen pragmatic cooperation in various areas, promote coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs, pushing Chinese-Kazakh relations to a new high and better safeguarding regional peace, stability and development, the premier stated.

With a solid foundation and conspicuous complementary advantages, bilateral cooperation is known for its huge potential and broad prospects. It is hoped that the two sides will implement intergovernmental economic and trade cooperation plans, ramp up negotiations and the signing of a newer version of deals as regards investment protection, production capacity and investment cooperation.

The Chinese premier also called for an improvement in connectivity and the volume of border shipments, so that there is a continuous increase in bilateral trade.

Energy tie-ups aside, China also wants to expand its imports of premium and green agricultural and livestock items from the Central Asian nation.

Furthermore, the two countries could explore new sources of growth in areas such as finance and cross-border e-commerce, Li stressed, pledging to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, foster people-to-people bonds, continue with the negotiation process of mutual visa exemption and facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries.

In the words of Smailov, Kazakhstan attaches great significance to its relations with China and is willing to tap into the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to deepen bilateral political mutual trust.

Kazakhstan intends to implement intergovernmental economic and trade plans, and strengthen communication and cooperation in trade, production capacity, energy and agriculture, among other fields, Smailov said.