 The joint declaration signed by both leaders highlighted several bilateral and global issues; these included American support for Kazakh oil and gas pipeline expansion in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, Kazakhstan's national development into a diverse and stable economy, and Kazakh ascension to the WTO.Included in the joint statement was a component focused on Kazakhstan's efforts to invest in "its citizens ... an independent media, local self-government, and elections deemed free and fair by international standards.