Kazakhstan's government set to expand strategic cooperation with CNPC - prime minister

ALMATY. April 26 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's government is looking forward to strengthening the strategic cooperation with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said.

Smailov and CNPC Vice President Huang Yongzhang on Wednesday discussed new investment projects in the energy sector.

"Over the years of working together, we have built trusting relationships while implementing major projects in the oil and gas industry. The government of Kazakhstan is committed to strengthening the strategic cooperation," Smailov said.

The Smailov said that CNPC was one of Kazakhstan's important strategic partners in the energy sector, and that CNPC has been successfully operating in Kazakhstan for over 25 years.

Huang noted that many of the joint projects that had been successfully implemented earlier have set a good example of mutually beneficial cooperation. He stressed that CNPC is interested in expanding its operations in Kazakhstan.

"China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors. CNPC is ready to contribute to bolstering the bilateral relations between the countries," Huang said.

During the meeting, the parties discussed oil exports, improving working conditions of CNPC employees in Kazakhstan, as well as a number of other issues of mutual interest.

KazMunayGas and CNPC earlier studied the possibility of boosting deliveries of Kazakh oil to China, which could be possible after expanding the throughput capacity of the Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline.

The parties also discussed a joint project for constructing a gas processing plant with capacity of four billion cubic meters at the Kashagan field, and reviewed ways to increase capacity of the Shymkent refinery up to 12 million tonnes a year. Other issues addressed during the meeting included the joint development of the new Bolshoy Zhambyl and Turgay Paleozoy oil fields.

JSC KazMunayGas National Company is the national operator for the exploration, production, processing, and transportation of hydrocarbons. The company represents the government's interests in the oil and gas sector of Kazakhstan.