Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China will exceed $30 billion in 2013, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Le Yucheng said in an interview to Kazakh state-run media on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan.

"According to data from China's customs, Chinese-Kazakh bilateral trade turnover amounted to $25.6 billion in 2012. This figure amounted to $13.57 billion in the first six months of 2013, increasing by 23.1 percent compared to the same period of 2012. It is expected that the volume of the trade turnover will exceed $30 billion in 2013," Le Yucheng said.

The ambassador said further that documents will be signed as a result of the visit, on the basis of which the implementation of promising Chinese-Kazakh oil and gas projects will continue and infrastructure and communications linking the two countries will be improved.

"All this will contribute to successful trading. Thus, I'm confident that the outlined goal will be achieved by 2015 and our trade turnover will increase to $40 billion," Le Yucheng said.

The Chinese president is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, which will last until September 8. The leaders of the two countries are expected to have a detailed exchange of views on a wide range of issues of the comprehensive strategic partnership and key international and regional issues.

The parties also intend to sign a joint declaration on the development of Chinese-Kazakh relations and a number of other documents on cooperation in the energy, transport, agriculture, science and technology and humanitarian aid sectors.

Ahead of his visit Jinping said in his interview to Kazakh Telegraph Agency that Kazakhstan and China are good neighbors and strategic partners.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two nations have been developing bilateral relations at a fast pace, he said.

"China is the largest trade partner of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is ranked second among China's trade partners within the CIS. The two nations have set a goal to bring the trade turnover to $40 billion by 2015," Jinping said