ASTANA. December 12. KAZINFORM /Serik Sabekov/ A ceremony of inauguration of the Kazakhstan section of Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline took place in Astana today. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao participated in it. "This day will lay foundation of a new stage of cooperation between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan. This is a grand construction project which symbolizes restoration of the ancient Silk Way and ensures friendship and cooperation of four SCO states", N. Nazarbayev said. According to him, this is quite a profitable, perspective and strategic project for both sides. It is implemented by KazMunaiGaz NC JSC jointly with China National Petroleum Corporation. The Intergovernmental Agreement "On construction and exploitation of Kazakhstan-China pipeline" as of August 18, 2007 and the "Agreement on major principles in construction" signed by KazMunaiGaz NC and CNPC on November 8, 2007 provide legal frame for the project's realization. USD 6.7 bln was invested in the project. Construction of Kazakhstan-China main gas pipeline will let transit natural gas from Turkmenistan to China through the territory of our republic. This will also allow creating additional channels of gas supply to Zhambyl, South Kazakhstan and Almaty regions. Its length makes 1,300 km. The project capacity of the gas pipeline is estimated in 30 bln cubic meters. In future this figure is expected to be raised up to 40 bln cubic meters of gas.