Strategic programs of China and Kazakhstan set similar goals and objectives, Chinese Ambassador
What could you say about the results of cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in 2014? First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for an opportunity to give an interview to the international news agency Kazinform and congratulate its readers and the staff on New Year! It is my first interview to Kazakhstan's mass media since my appointment as Ambassador of China. 2014 is a year of fruitful cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. Last year we successfully organized bilateral high-level visits. Last May President Nazarbayev paid a state visit to China and took part in the CICA Summit in Shanghai. The leaders of two nations held talks and achieved good accords. Quite recently Premier of the State Council of China Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. The countries signed USD 14 bln deals. I believe that such high-level visits help strengthen mutual understanding, mutual trust and broaden mutual benefit cooperation between our countries and nations. Besides, last week visiting Kazakh Investments and Development Minister Asset Issekeshev met with chairman of the National Development and Reform Committee of China Xu Shaoshi in Beijing. The parties discussed joint projects in spheres such as mining and smelting, petrochemistry, machine building, production of building materials, transport infrastructure and power sector. More than 50 projects are under study now. Realization of 16 projects may start soon. The Chinese delegation will pay a return visit early this year to hold relevant consultations. What are the prospects for bilateral cooperation? What are the areas of special focus? Last year the countries observed a decline in bilateral sales due to slackening in the rate of global economic growth, however the quality of our cooperation has enhanced. Kazakhstan is an absolute priority of China's foreign policy. Currently the countries enjoy the strong foundation for further deepening of relations, broadly, the Western China-Western Europe international corridor, Eurasian continental bridge, oil pipelines, Khorgos international centre of border cooperation. All the joint projects view success. China plans to help Kazakhstan build and modernize its transport infrastructure and tune up joint production lines in the future. Besides, China is interested in broadening cooperation in railway construction, including high speed ones for Kazakhstan has a huge potential in the development of transport and logistics services. Positioned in the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan holds an advantageous position for a through traffic of Chinese goods to Europe. More than half of goods sent to Europe will be shipped via Kazakhstan. Also the sides have great opportunities for cooperation in agriculture. I believe that the key is to tune up mutual benefit cooperation and consult interest of Kazakhstan's people. We sincerely wish Kazakhstan successful economic development. We should also strengthen cooperation in a struggle with the three evils (terrorism extremism and separatism), drug trafficking, and trans-border crime in the bilateral format and within SCO. Ensuring security and stability in the region is the important background for successful economic development of our nations. Lately, official mass media of China start frequently using "a new norm" word combination regarding the Chinese economy. What does it mean? China launches a new economic policy "New norm" that suggests that Chinese authorities adapt the country's internal and foreign policies. For more than 30 years of realizing the policy of reforms and openness the country has maintained the highest rate of its economic growth above 10% a year. China has achieved good results. However, today we face certain difficulties in further steady and long-term economic development. We are keen to change the model of China's future economic growth. China seeks for a balance between economic restructuring and maintaining reasonable growth rates. It plans to hold down growth rates at the level of 7-8%. The country will ensure its economic growth thanks to innovations and new technologies implementation. China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and strengthening of friendly relations with neighbors, including Kazakhstan. During his visit in 2013 to Kazakhstan, President of China Xi Jinping for the first time launched an initiative to build a Silk Road Economic Belt. It was a milestone event. Last year President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced the Nulry Zhol new economic policy. The two strategic programs of Kazakhstan and China set similar goals and objectives. I consider that the core task for us, diplomats, is to find common grounds between the current economic courses of the two countries. I think that Chinese economy, the world's second largest one close to Kazakhstan will give a tremendous chance and opportunity for joint mutual beneficial work. I am confident that Kazakhstan and China are the community of common fate and common interest. Kazakhstan announced a move from an exchange rate regime pegged entirely to the dollar to multi-currency basket of currencies. What are the prospects of using yuan as the global reserve currency? There is a Chinese saying such as "Never put all your eggs in one basket". The same holds true for the US dollar. When one currency dominates globally, for example the US dollar, and some international funds raise a fuss everywhere aggravating thus financial and economic situation in other countries it is the dollar hegemony. To this end it is crucial to give a serious thought to building a multipolar financial world. Currently Chinese yuan (RMB) goes outside China. There are international centres for RMB trading in London, Frankfurt, Australia and South Korea. Kazakhstan and China have good background for expanding cooperation in the financial and foreign exchange sectors. The countries agreed to exchange national currencies within the tenge-yuan swap transactions. I believe it is necessary to realize soon an idea on setting up a regional yuan trading centre in Kazakhstan. Thank you for the interview!