Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks in Beijing with his Kazakhstan counterpart Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen bilateral relations.

 

Li said China would carefully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and the agreements signed between the two countries.

 

Li mentioned the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan in July 2005, saying it had marked a new stage in the development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

 

"China, with Kazakhstan, is ready to strive for more concrete achievements in bilateral relations," said Li.

 

Tokayev said Kazakhstan attached great importance to the relationship with China, and would resolutely adhere to the one-China policy, he said.

 

Kazakhstan would strengthen bilateral cooperation in striking the "three forces" of separatism, extremism and terrorism, and in economic and trade and energy fields.

 

The two sides also had an exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern.

 

Tokayev is making an official visit at Li's invitation from April 11 to 13. It is his first visit to China since his country's new government was formed in June 2003.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)