Premier Li Keqiang (L) and his Kazakh counterpart Bakytzhan Sagintayev hold the third regular meeting between the two countries’ prime ministers in Astana, Kazakhstan, Nov 3, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang on Nov 3 pledged to better align its Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with Kazakhstan’s new economic policy of the Bright Road to usher in a new phase of bilateral cooperation.

The pledge came as Premier Li and his Kazakh counterpart Bakytzhan Sagintayev held the third regular meeting between the two countries’ prime ministers in Astana, capital of the central Asian country.

The cooperation in production capacity suits the needs of both countries, said the Premier.

Having scored first batch of achievements since it was launched two years ago, cooperation in production capacity has become the new highlights of bilateral pragmatic cooperation, Premier Li said.

The Premier encouraged both countries to explore new potentials through production capacity cooperation so as to further promote the all-around mutually beneficial cooperation and yield more fruitful results through the construction of major projects on connectivity.

Hailing Kazakhstan a good neighbor country and comprehensive strategic partner of China, Premier Li said the bilateral ties have marched forward by leaps and bounds in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and cooperation.

China is willing to cement mutual trust and expand cooperation with Kazakhstan so as to continue to set a good example of good neighborly relations and win-win cooperation, the Premier said.

China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to deepen cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to safeguard regional peace and stability, Premier Li said.

For his part, Sagintayev said Kazakhstan would like to integrate its new economic policy of the Bright Road with China’s Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, and further deepen the bilateral cooperation in areas including production capacity, transportation, energy, agriculture, and innovation.

Kazakhstan will increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China and expand the cooperation between the two countries’ local governments and companies, said Sagintayev, adding that his country will make the “Tourism Year of China,” to be held in the central Asian country in 2017, a success.

After the meeting, both Premier Li and Sagintayev attended a launching ceremony for a JAC automobile factory in the northern city of Kostanay, a major project of China-Kazakhstan production capacity cooperation.

Premier Li arrived in Astana on Nov 3 for an official visit after his trip to Kyrgyzstan where he attended the 15th prime ministers’ meeting of the SCO.

Kazakhstan is the second leg of Li’s eight-day Eurasia tour, which will also take him to Latvia and Russia.