国内英语新闻:China, Kazakhstan reach preliminary consensus on 18-billion-USD infrastructure deal

ASTANA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Kazakh counterpart Karim Masimov on Monday reached preliminary consensus on a capacity cooperation framework agreement worth 18 billion U.S. dollars.

The consensus was reached during a breakfast meeting between Li and Masimov on the second day of Li's official visit to the Central Asian country.

The framework agreement, covering infrastructure, highway and housing construction, is believed to help deepen China-Kazakh cooperation and forge new growth points in their practical cooperation.

According to preliminary planning, the funding of the project will come mostly from Kazakhstan and international organizations, while the rest will be loans from China.

Li wrapped up his Kazakhstan trip late Monday after meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and attending the 13th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Kazakhstan is the first leg of Li's three-nation tour, which will also take him to Serbia and Thailand.