Chinese President Jiang Zemin held talks with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 23. Jiang said that China and Kazakhstan have completely settled border issues respecting equal consultation, mutual understanding and mutual concession.

Jiang noted that resolving border issues between China and Kazakhstan is of great significance to the stability of both countries now and in the future. Resolving border issues will also serve as a model for settling complex historical problems between states.

Jiang said relations between the two countries have grown steadily in recent years with some fruitful results in a number of areas. China-Kazakhstan relations will further develop during Nazarbayev's new presidential term, Jiang said.

The Chinese President said that the steady growth of China- Kazakhstan relations was due to mutual respect and trust, equality, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and consultation when dealing with problems.

It is important that China maintains and develops long-term, stable relations with Kazakhstan, said Jiang, adding that China will always be a good friend, neighbor and partner of Kazakhstan, regardless of whether the international situation changes.

Nazarbayev told Jiang that as China has just celebrated its 50th anniversary, he would like to extend his sincere congratulations to the Chinese people on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan.

According to the Kazakhstan president, the achievements made by China since 1979, when the country adopted the reform and opening policy, have attracted worldwide attention. "Kazakhstan is a young country and ready to learn from China with regard to reform and opening up to the outside world," he said.

Kazakhstan attaches great importance to cooperating with China in all fields, he said. With long-standing bilateral ties, Kazakhstan is willing to further promote and develop bilateral relations in the next century.

Nazarbayev also stressed that his country is willing to implement the guiding principles in all agreements reached by the two countries, including supporting the "one China" policy. Jiang expressed his appreciation for Kazakhstan's support.

On bilateral economic and trade relations, Jiang gave credit to the remarkable progress made by the two countries in recent years, saying Kazakhstan has become the second largest trade partner with China among all partners in the former Soviet Union with two-way trade expected to reached one billion US dollars this year.

Jiang expressed the hope that the two countries will strengthen technology transfer and mutual investment and stimulate the development of enterprises.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation against ethnic splitism, fundamentalism and terrorism.

After the talks, Jiang and Nazarbayev signed the joint statement on fully improving bilateral cooperation in the 21st century and a joint communiqu¨¦ on the resolution of border issues between the two countries.

Officials from relevant departments of the two countries also signed two pacts, one for offering free assistance to Kazakhstan and the other for bilateral cooperation against unfair competition and monopoly.

Nazarbayev also presented Jiang with a "Golden Eagle" medal. The Kazakhstan president arrived here earlier today for his state visit to China. (PD-Xinhua)