On September 12, 2001, Premier Zhu Rongji, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, held talks with Kazakh Prime Minister Tokayev in Astana. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on ways to promote the development of bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Zhu expressed the gladness for the opportunity to pay his first formal visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Tokayev and warmly congratulated Kazakhstan on the 10th anniversary of its independence.

Zhu said that China-Kazakhstan relations have been developing smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 10 years ago. The good working relations and personal friendship President Jiang Zemin has established with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev help enhance the mutual trust and mutual respect between the two sides in politics. The two sides enjoy broad consensus not only in developing bilateral relations but also on international and regional issues. The good political relations between the two countries have escalated the development of their trade and economic cooperation. As a result, bilateral trade volume increased from 370 million U.S. dollars in 1992 to 1.5 billion dollars last year. The two economies are highly complementary to each other and there are great potentials and broad prospects for their cooperation in oil and gas drilling, the utilization of water resources of cross-boarder rivers as well as transportation.

Zhu also noted that cultural exchanges, which play an irreplaceable role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship and communicate feelings between the two peoples, are an important part of the friendly relations of cooperation between the two countries. The two sides have signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and three cultural exchange programs. The Chinese government, as it always does, will make efforts to increase the two countries’ exchanges and cooperation in the field of culture.
 
Zhu stressed that the series of documents signed by both sides during his current visit were the results of the broad consensus reached by the two sides in a wide range of areas. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Kazakh side to implement the principle of fully developing China-Kazakhstan friendly cooperation set by President Jiang Zemin and Nazarbayev.

Tokayev first extended a warm welcome to Zhu for his formal visit to Kazakhstan. He said that the Kazakh leaders and government attach great importance to Zhu's visit and are confident that the visit will promote the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the development of bilateral relations in an all-round way. He said he shared Zhu’s views on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Tokayev said Kazakhstan-China cooperation has broad prospects, and that the various departments of his government are willing to push forward bilateral co-operation with China in trade, culture and all other areas on the basis of mutual trust.

Tokayev said that Kazakhstan continues to support China in its stance on the Taiwan question, and maintains that there is only one China in the world and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China, and thus Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Kazakhstan will not develop official relations with Taiwan in any form. Zhu appreciated that.

Following their talks, the two Prime Ministers signed a joint communiqué and an agreement on the utilization and protection of cross-boarder rivers. Their ministers inked an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation on income, the exchange of letters on China's providing assistance to Kazakhstan, an agreement on the cooperation in seismic study and another on health cooperation.