国内英语新闻:Chinese, Kazakh PMs agree to enhance bilateral cooperation

DUSHANBE, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Kazakh counterpart, Karim Masimov, agreed here Wednesday to enhance bilateral cooperation in various areas, including energy, high-tech, infrastructure and agriculture.

The pledge was made at a meeting between the two leaders, who are gathering in the Tajik capital for a prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan has enjoyed all-round and in-depth development in recent years, Wen said, citing frequent high-level bilateral contacts, increasing mutual political trust, close communication and coordination in such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations and the SCO between the two countries, and remarkable pragmatic bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, Nov. 24, 2010.

China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to carry out the consensus reached earlier this year between their heads of state on the development of bilateral ties and advance their strategic cooperation to new heights, Wen said.

The two countries should continue to consolidate and expand their cooperation in energy and ensure the safe, stable and effective operation of the China-Kazakhstan oil and gas pipelines, he said.

He also urged the two sides to carry out some flagship projects in non-resources fields as soon as possible, enhance their cooperation in high-tech, infrastructure and agriculture, and make concerted efforts to build their transborder free trade zone.

The Chinese government supports a greater role of Chinese enterprises in the Kazakh economic development and achieve mutual benefits and common development, Wen said.