Chinese top legislator meets Kazakhstan's first deputy PM

BEIJING, Dec. 4 -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo met here Friday with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeev.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said China and Kazakhstan are friendly neighbors and strategic partners.

He said the Chinese side set a high value on firm support from Kazakhstan on issues of Taiwan, Tibet, and fighting "East Turkistan" forces.

China will continue as always to support Kazakhstan in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and promoting socio-economic development, he said.

Shukeev visits China to co-chair the fifth meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperative Commission with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan. During the meeting, more than 20 Chinese, Kazakh officials, ranging from trade and energy to environment and transportation laid out plans for future cooperation.

Wu said the commission has played an active role in promoting bilateral cooperation. He hopes the consensus and agreements reached in the fifth meeting can be carried out as soon as possible to deepen cooperation between the two sides in various fields.

Shukeev said Kazakhstan attaches great importance to relations with China, and is willing to work with China to give full play to the role of the committee, in order to promote the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China.