ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Kazakhstan on Monday announced their decision to forge a strategic partnership between them.

    "In view of profound changes in regional and international situations, to promote good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, the two countries decide to establish and develop strategic partnership," says a joint statement signed by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.

    This partnership, which is based on well-recognized international norms and principles and aimed to promote peace, stability and prosperity in both countries, is not directed against a third country, it says.

    To substantiate the partnership, the two countries will work to deepen political mutual trust, enhance security cooperation to promote regional security and prosperity, seek common development and prosperity through closer economic cooperation, encourage more personnel exchanges and contacts between the two peoples.

    According to the joint statement, the two sides have agreed to keep the momentum of exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries, make concerted effort to implement the good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation treaty and all other political statements the two countries have signed, and strengthencooperation in economy, trade, energy, transportation and finance.     

    Both sides have agreed to give full support and provide whatever is needed to ensure the completion of the Atasu-Alataw Pass oil pipeline as scheduled, speed up a pilot study on a natural gas pipeline linking the two countries and start construction of a cooperation center on the border as soon as possible.

    The two countries will work together to further improve trade and investment environment, create favorable conditions for banks of the two countries to operate on each other's soil, and exchange information on natural disasters and protect water resources in the rivers shared by the two countries, says the statement.

    In the statement, China offers support to Kazakhstan's bid to join the World Trade Organization while Kazakhstan reaffirms the one-China policy and expressed its opposition to "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," "Taiwan independence" or Taiwan joining any international or regional organizations whose membership needs statehood.

    Recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of whole China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, Kazakhstan promises not to have official ties or contacts with Taiwan.

    Kazakhstan understands and supports China's efforts in opposingand containing the separatist forces which seek "Taiwan independence," in accomplishing the goal of peaceful reunification of the nation, and in safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in the Asia-Pacific region.

    The two countries have agreed to enhance cooperation in various international fora for peace and development in this region and for building a fair and rational international order. They also have pledged efforts within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    On UN reform, the two countries maintain that attention should be given to the representation of developing countries in the world body and more participation by developing countries in UN decision-making.

    UN reform must be comprehensive and cover a wide range of areasand all resolutions on this important issue require broad-based consensus through democratic consultations, the joint statement says. Enditem