The 14^th meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Joint Committee on utilization and protection of trans-border rivers was held in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, from November 22 to 24, 2016.

Mr. Zhou Xuewen, Vice Minister of Water Resources of China and head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Ressan Baye, Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and head of the Kazakhstan delegation, and representatives from foreign affairs, environmental protection and local authorities of two countries attended the meeting. Under the friendly, mutual-trust, pragmatic and constructive atmosphere, the joint committee highly evaluated the recent achievements by both countries in the aspect of utilization and protection of trans-border rivers. The meeting was very successful and both parties signed the minutes.

Mr. Zhou Xuewen stated that water was the fundamental guarantee for the sustainable social and economic development, and strongly linked with the basic well-beings of two people. China was willing to further promote the bilateral cooperation in the sector of trans-border rivers with Kazakhstan to make new contributions for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between two countries.

Mr. Ressan Baye highly appreciated the China's positive efforts to promote the China-Kazakhstan cooperation on Trans-border rivers, construction, and expressed his gratitude for China to carry out the constructive and pragmatic attitude of cooperation in the field of tans-border rivers, especially in the flood season of 2016 China increased the frequency of data provision in Irtysh river and Yili river to make Kazakhstan have enough time to take preventive measures. Both sides have established the good working relationship and the mutual-trust atmosphere of cooperation.

During the meeting, Vice Minister Zhou visited water projects of Kazakhstan in the river basin of Yili river.