China, Kazakhstan mulling gas pipeline constrction   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2006-04-14 09:16  
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev said Thursday 
that China and Kazakhstan are negotiating the laying of a natural gas pipeline 
between the two countries. 
 Tokayev made the remarks when addressing Chinese social and political guests 
at the Kazakhstan Embassy in Beijing. 
 He said Kazakhstan's oil industry had become one of the main fields of 
cooperation with China. 
 Joint projects included an oil pipeline with an annual capacity of 20 million 
tons. 
 China and Kazakhstan completed the pipeline from Atasu to Alataw pass, one of 
the three sections of the Atyrau-Alataw pass pipeline, in December 2005. Tokayev 
said the pipeline is planned to open shortly. 
 Bilateral trade stood at 1.95 billion U.S. dollars in 2002, rising to 6.8 
billion U.S. dollars last year, said Tokayev. 
 Tokayev arrived Tuesday for a three-day visit to China. This is the Kazakh 
Foreign Minister's first visit since the new government was formed in 
2003.  
  |