Backgrounder: Facts and figures of Kazakhstan

Source: Xinhua | 10-29-2008 13:18

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is scheduled to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan on Oct. 29-31, during which he will also attend the 7th prime ministers' meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries in Astana, capital city of Kazakhstan.

Following are some facts and figures of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan, with a total area of 2.7 million sq. km, is the ninth largest nation in the world, about the size of Western Europe.

The country extends east to west from the Caspian Sea to the Altay Mountains and north to south from the plains of Western Siberia to the oasis and desert of Central Asia, bordering Russia, Uzbekistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Kazakhstan has a population of 15.6 million, second most-populated country in Central Asia.

Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. The Kazakh language is called the "state" language, and Russian the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business. 64.4 percent of the population speaks the Kazakh language.

Kazakhstan's economy grew by 8.5 percent in 2007. The GDP per capita in 2007 reached 6,674 U.S. dollars.

Oil, gas, and mineral exports are key to Kazakhstan's economy. Since 1993, Kazakhstan's mining industries have attracted 30.7 billion dollars in foreign investment.

Kazakhstan has significant deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, uranium and gold.

Oil and gas is the leading economic sectors. Production of oil and gas condensate in Kazakhstan amounted to 67.2 million tons in 2007, up from 64.5 million tons in 2006.

Kazakhstan exported 60.2 million tons of oil and gas condensate in 2007, while natural gas production totaled 16.6 billion cubic meters.

China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992. Bilateral ties have developed smoothly, and enjoyed political trust and a good momentum of economic and trade cooperation. The leaders of the two countries maintain frequent exchanges of visits.

China is Kazakhstan's second largest trade partner. Bilateral trade volume reached 13.8 billion dollars in 2007, up 66 percent from the previous year.

Editor:Zhang Ning