China and Kazakhstan strengthen relations

China and Kazakhstan will speed up the development of plans for medium- and long-term economic cooperation so the two countries can achieve a trade volume of $40 billion in 2015.

Premier Wen Jiabao told Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov on the sidelines of the 11th Shanghai Cooperation Organization prime ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Wednesday that China would like to maintain high-ranking communication with Kazakhstan and deepen mutual trust.

China would like to enhance China-Kazakhstan cooperation in areas including oil, gas and the building of frontier railway ports, while further expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture, high-end technology, finance and telecommunication, Wen said.