A close neighbor is more valued than a distant relative: PM Massimov on China

Astana hosted a sitting of the Kazakh-Chinese Business Council, a platform for signing a number of significant agreements, a Tengrinews.kz journalist reports.

Kazakhstan’s PM Karim Massimov welcomed China’s representatives in attendance in Chinese language. A Chinese saying goes that friendship is priceless. Kazakhstan and China have been friends for a long time. Kazakhstan appreciates the reached level of cooperation and friendly relations with China. Trust-based ties between Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping testify to the friendship of the two nations. I see a keen interest on the part of China and I want to reiterate Kazakhstan reciprocates the interest”, he said.

“There is a vast potential to be unleashed to develop the trade and economic, humanitarian cooperation (…) against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty our nations should unleash the potential of their friendship to have large-scaled tasks accomplished to the benefit of their people (…) we have common interests and issues to tackle. A creative approach is required to implement specific projects and contribute to the so-called Kazakh and Chinese Dreams. For the recent years a great job has been done. Notably, Kazakhstan is among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world and, according to the World Bank, is a middle income country”, PM Massimov said.

He emphasized that Kazakhstan welcomed investments into manufacturing and processing industries to create science-intensive, high-tech industries with a higher value added.

“Kazakhstan has put in place favorable conditions for foreign investors. Today Mr. Li Keqiang and I have detailedly discussed two programs, China’s Economic Belt along the Silk Way Route and the Program titled Nurly Zhol initiated by Kazakhstan President. The two programs complement each other and enable businesses of the two nations to reach new heights. It is important we have been able to turn to greater cooperation from the already high level of interaction between the two nations (…) Kazakhstan and China are neighbors relying on long-lasting friendly ties. There is a Kazakh saying that goes that a close neighbor is more valued than a distant relative”, Kazakhstan’s PM summed up.