China, Kazakhstan to expand oil cooperation

China will continue to expand its energy ties with Kazakhstan, especially in oil and gas exploitation as well as chemical engineering programs, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Friday, citing a senior energy official. The two countries should enhance dialogues between governments and companies and improve bilateral energy cooperation mechanisms, Liu Tienan, head of the National Energy Administration (NEA), was quoted as saying. The NEA is the nation''s top level administration oversees the energy sector. "The two countries should accelerate the construction of oil pipelines, including the Beyneu-Chimkent section of the China-Kazakhstan gas pipeline and the Kazakh section of China-Central Asia gas pipeline, to ensure long-term and stable supplies of oil and gas to the world''s second largest economy," Liu said in Beijing. The Beyneu-Chimkent section of the China-Kazakhstan gas pipeline, which is scheduled to be completed in March 2013, will benefit more than 5 million people in the Central Asian country and boost its economic growth. China and Kazakhstan will continue to push forward cooperation in new energy and resource equipment manufacturing as well as explore new areas of cooperation, he added. (China, Kazakhstan to expand oil, gas cooperation