Kazakhstan, China: Together Forever

Kazakhstan and China signed in Beijing yesterday a joint Chinese-Kazakh statement, which will help Chinese oil companies to explore and develop oil deposits off the Caspian Sea coast.

The document, signed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, praises the level of bilateral contacts.
"The parties will discuss the construction of the Atasu-Alashankou oil pipeline and implement projects aimed at developing oil deposits, and constructing a gas pipeline from Kazakhstan to China," reads the statement.

Kazakhstan stresses "the historic importance of the Chinese government's statement providing security guarantees to Kazakhstan, which was published in February 1995, and confirms its readiness to continue its cooperation with China to strengthen global and regional security," the document says.

Kazakhstan and China also pledged to "take further steps to counter terrorism in all its forms, including the Islamic Movement of Eastern Turkestan organization, which poses an immediate threat to the region's stability and security."