On May 18, Mr. Dai Houliang, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), participated in the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. On the sidelines of the event, he had a meeting with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. Mr. Dai expressed gratitude to President Tokayev for his long-time support for China-Kazakhstan oil and gas cooperation, and had an in-depth exchange of views with President Tokayev on promoting and expanding bilateral oil and gas cooperation. In the presence of President Tokayev, Mr. Dai signed a series of cooperation documents with the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan. Mr. Dai also delivered a speech at the China-Kazakhstan Investment Roundtable held on the same day.

During the meeting, President Tokayev spoke highly of the achievements of CNPC's oil and gas cooperation in Kazakhstan. He said that CNPC is a strategic partner of Kazakhstan and that bilateral oil and gas cooperation plays an important role in Kazakhstan's economic development. Kazakhstan will, on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win results, strengthen dialogue, communication and cooperation with  CNPC, and provide all-round support and policy guarantees for CNPC's businesses in Kazakhstan. Looking ahead, he expected the two sides to create new highlights and open up new areas built on the existing cooperation, jointly promote industrial prosperity, share the fruits of development and build a bridge of friendship.

Mr. Dai expressed that CNPC has been supporting the development of Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry for more than 25 years, and has made due contributions to Kazakhstan's socioeconomic development through a series of cooperation achievements in oil and gas exploration and development, pipeline construction and refinery renovation in Kazakhstan, creating local employment and supporting social welfare programs.  CNPC is willing to continue its investment in Kazakhstan, strengthen high-quality cooperation in oil and gas projects and natural gas trade, deepen exchanges in green and low-carbon development, scientific and technological exchanges and personnel training, in order to make new contributions to the construction of a "New Kazakhstan" and the Belt and Road Initiative.

On the same day, Mr. Dai met with Zhakupov, Chairman of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, and Sanzhar Zharkeshov, Chairman of QazaqGaz, and signed a series of agreements with Kazakh counterparts on behalf of  CNPC.

In the afternoon of May 18, Mr. Dai also had cordial exchanges with Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, and signed a supplementary agreement on the Bokhtar Project with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, which will lay a solid foundation for the substantial progress of the project.