OREANDA-NEWS. February 25, 2011. Chinese Minister of Railways and President of the JSC “National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy” (Kazakhstan Railways) Askar Mamin held the presentation of the project at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

The President also met with prominent representatives of business circles of China.

Delivering at the meeting, the President emphasized that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to China, Kazakhstan’s large trade and economic partner which has been a geostrategic location on the Eurasian continent. The dynamic growth of trade turnover between the two countries increased by nearly 50 percent and totaled USD 20 billion with exports increase by 72 percent and imports – by 11 percent.

“I am delighted to note that economic relation between the two countries move to a new level and to state that we have a mutual aspiration to their further development. There more than 1,000 joint companies with participation of Chinese capital work in Kazakhstan. We sufficiently advanced in realization of joint projects in energy sphere,” the head of state highlighted.

Among these projects are construction of Kenkiyak-Kumkol and Atasu-Alashankou Oil Pipelines, Kazakhstan-China and Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent Gas Pipelines. The Chinese companies’ oil exploration share accounted for 20 percent. The Chinese investments totaled more than a quarter (26 percent) of all foreign investments flown into the oil and gas sector of the country’s economy. Cooperation in the nuclear energy sphere is also developing.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Vice-Premier of the State Council Wang Qishan, Director General of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Jiang Jiemin, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, JSC Kairat Kelimbetov, and Chairman of the Board of Kazatomprom National Atomic Company, JSC Vladimir Shkolnik also delivered their speeches.