NEWS

Wen Jiabao Says China Views Positively Import and Transit of Kazakh Grain

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told visiting Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State – Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev on Tuesday that Beijing views favorably the imports of Kazakh grain and wheat as well as their transit to third countries.

Earlier this year, Kazakhstan announced its intention to ship up to three million tons of grain to and through China in 2010 after a record grain harvest in 2009 of 22 million tons. Kazakhstan’s wheat, grown on the wide steppes of central Eurasia, is famous for its high quality.

Kanat Saudabayev and Wen Jiabao met on Tuesday during Saudabayev’s first visit to China in his capacity as the foreign minister. The two discussed a variety of issues relating to trade and economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.

In addition to the more traditional energy sector, which is the linchpin of the bilateral trade and investment cooperation, the two countries are now discussing the cooperation in renewable energy. Last December, Astana and Beijing signed an agreement on that subject, providing for the cooperation in using solar and wind power. Kazakhstan has the abundance of both throughout the year.

The Kazakh foreign minister and the Chinese Premier also discussed measures the two countries have been taking to overcome consequences of the global economic crisis. They found many similarities in anti-crisis measures the two governments were taking, including investment in infrastructure projects and the support for social safety networks.

Kazakhstan is also set to participate in the upcoming Shanghai EXPO-2010, presenting there the opportunities of Astana, its dynamic capital since 1997.

On Wednesday, Saudabayev is scheduled to deliver an address to Chinese academic circles and officials at the Academy of Public Sciences in Beijing.

Date of issue: 2010-02-23