Deals Expected As Kazakh President Visits China

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev

Kazakhstan and China are expected to sign a number of deals to deepen their already thriving cooperation during a state visit to Beijing by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

Reports say the two sides were expected to sign a contract worth several billion U.S. dollars for long-term Kazakhstan supplies of uranium to China as part of a cooperation program between Kazakhstan and China's Guangdong Nuclear Power Company.

Reports say the two sides are also expected to agree a $1 billion plan for the Export-Import Bank of China to finance construction of an oil refinery in the Kazakh city of Atyrau, on the Caspian Sea.

The deals are expected to add to trade ties between the two neighboring countries that were estimated at more than $20 billion last year.

China ranks alongside Russia as Kazakhstan's main import and export partner.

compiled from agency reports