On October 31, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Masimov in Astana.

During the meeting, Wen pointed out that the Sino-Kazakh friendly cooperation enjoys a profound basis. Bilateral relations have developed rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 16 years ago, with mutual trust and bilateral cooperation being enhanced each day, Wen said.The two countries have understood and supported each other on major issues of common concern and coordinated closely in regional and international organizations, the Chinese premier noted. Wen expressed gratitude to the Kazakh side for its support for the Beijing Olympics as well as the rescue and relief efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake which hit southwest China in May.

Wen stressed that China considers Kazakhstan as an important cooperation partner in the Central Asian region and will enhance friendly contacts and pragmatic cooperation with the country in various fields to push forward the sustained development of their strategic partnership.

Wen raised a three-point proposal on bilateral cooperation in trade and economy. First, the two countries should intensify energy cooperation and ensure the completion of the China-Kazakhstan gas pipeline and the second phase of oil pipeline by the end of 2009. Second, the two sides should strengthen cooperation in non-resources fields and improve trade structure. Both sides should well implement the project of China and Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center. China encourages its enterprises to engage in Kazakhstan's power plant construction and automobile manufacture. Efforts should also be made to promote cooperation in agriculture, finance, science and technology. Third, cooperation at boundary ports needs to be enhanced. The two sides should speed up infrastructure construction and transportation networking at these ports, optimize their operation and facilitate people's travel and the flow of commodities.

The Chinese side highly values the utilization and protection of cross-border water resources and will take downstream countries' interests into full consideration, Wen said. China is willing to resolve related issues through consultation in line with the principles of mutual benefit and win-win solution, Wen added.

Masimov said Kazakhstan and China have always supported and coordinated with each other.The leaders of the two countries have maintained close contacts, which plays an important role in furthering bilateral ties, he said. Kazakhstan gives high priority to its cooperation with China and is willing to join hands with China to implement cooperation programs, deepen energy cooperation, complete oil and gas pipeline projects on time, expand cooperation in non-resource areas such as electricity and infrastructure construction, and promote sustained growth of bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, he said.

Masimov also expressed his country's willingness to co operate with China in monitoring and protecting cross-border waters.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of a series of cooperation documents concerning customs, public health, agriculture, banking, energy, science and technology. Both sides also issued a joint communiqu岢 between the two governments and jointly met the press.