China, Kazakhstan sign 33 deals worth of 23.6 billion U.S. dollars

BEIJING, March 27 -- China and Kazakhstan on Friday signed 33 deals of cooperation worth 23.6 billion U.S. dollars during Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Masimov's China visit.

The signing of the deals, including those covering cooperation on steel, non-ferrous metals, sheet glass, oil refining, hydropower and automobile, were witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Masimov.

The inking of the deals show the success of bilateral cooperation, and proves that the two countries' economies are complementary, Li said.

In Li's visit to the central Asian country in December 2014, the two prime ministers reached preliminary consensus on a capacity cooperation framework agreement worth 18 billion U.S. dollars.

China's equipment and technology are cost-effective, which are suitable for countries promoting industrialization, Li noted.

Li called on the two countries to be innovative in the ways they cooperate by taking market demand as a guide while strengthening coordination of policy making.

He also called for more cooperation in areas such as railway, nuclear energy, energy, agriculture and cultural exchanges.

Masimov spoke highly of the "good start" to the capacity cooperation, saying it proves that this new mode of cooperation has broad prospects and will be an example for the region.

He said Kazakhstan is ready to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all areas.

Masimov is paying a working visit to China, during which he will also attend the annual Boao Forum for Asia conference in south China's Hainan Province.