Kazakhstan ready to increase supplies to XUAR - Tokayev

ASTANA. Oct 19 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is ready to increase supplies of goods to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of the People's Republic of China, including metallurgical, petrochemical, and food products, the President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was cited as saying in a statement issues by the presidential press service on Wednesday.

"In the mutual trade of Kazakhstan with Xinjiang, the existing mechanisms of regional cooperation are of particular importance. Kazakhstan is ready to increase the supply of various products to your region. We are talking about metallurgical, petrochemical, engineering, food products, as well as construction materials," Tokayev said at a meeting in Urumqi with member of CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, Secretary of the CPC XUAR Autonomous Regional Committee, Ma Xinzhu.

The Kazakh president mentioned the high potential for cooperation in the agricultural and food sector, and that Kazakhstan could become a stable supplier of environmentally friendly agricultural products to the Chinese market.

Tokayev noted that the XUAR accounts for over 40% of the total trade volume between Kazakhstan and China, with Kazakhstan's trade turnover with Xinjiang rising 87% and amounting to $8.5 billion over 6M of this year.

The head of state also stressed the importance of the construction of the third railway crossing between Kazakhstan and China. He believes it possible to begin implementing this project in the near future, the presidential press service also said.

In addition to developing trade and economic ties, Tokayev emphasized the importance of developing cooperation in the water industry and the use of transboundary rivers.