1st Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan: We fully support Silk Road economic belt

What do you think about Chinese President XiJinping's proposal of jointly building the Silk Road economic belt? It is very critical. The Silk Road economic belt has a very solid foundation. It offers great convenience for the trade between Europe and China. Thus it improves the trade potential between China and Kazakhstan and enhances the bilateral cooperation which is favorable not only for Kazakhstan but also for the whole region. Just a few days ago Nursultan Nazarbayev, Зresident of Kazakhstan, talked about the achievements in the building of the Silk Road economic belt at the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). China-Kazakhstan ties will become stronger and Kazakhstan will give full support to China. Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, mentioned that today Asia's development has surpassed that of Europe no matter in terms of speed or stability of development. Asia is the region with the most rapid progress considering the total GDP of all Asian countries.Therefore we need to seize this opportunity. Under the guidance of our leaders, China andKazakhstan jointly create the Silk Road economic belt - an economic zone for regionalcooperation where the people can cross the boundaries to develop the economy. In order to enhance the economic growth, Kazakhstan has finished constructing its section of a highway that connects China with Europe. This highway is 8,500 kilometers long with 2,700 kilometers in Kazakhstan, 3,500 kilometers in China and the rest parts in Russia and Belarus. Through this highway Chinese goods can be more quickly transported to Europe-using just one-third of the time in logistic than before. At the same time Kazakhstan constructed the China-Europe railway and opened severa logistic companies. Therefore we need this Silk Road economic belt and will fully support itas well as our friendly states such as China and Russia. Only in this way can we make fulluse of this economic belt. What's the role that Kazakhstan plays in the Silk Roadeconomic belt? I have mentioned that the China-Europe highway goes across the major part of Kazakhstan. That is to say the major part of the Silk Road economic belt goes through Kazakhstan. If this section of the road doesn't function well then the whole Silk Road economic belt will be blocked. So we have made the preparation very early. Kazakhstan is not a participant but a partner in building the Silk Road economic belt. Kazakhstan can not only be a portal but a terminal. That's the important role that Kazakhstan plays in the Silk Road economic belt. We need to join hands to complete thisproject. What's the biggest obstacle in building the Silk Roadeconomic belt? We shoulder the hope of our two countries. We will never disappoint our both sides. The governments of China and Kazakhstan should make efforts to develop this project. Kazakhstan has joined several international groups,such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Eurasian Union and Silk Road economic belt. How does Kazakhstan make the balance? That's very common for Kazakhstan and it's a necessary process. Kazakhstan will keep joining in all kinds of international organizations and will make newefforts for their unity and prosperity. Kazakhstan is not only a young country. It has grown up. Kazakhstan will fully implement its duty. We can develop the friendship with different countries and establish commercial ties because Kazakhstan is a reliable partner.