Nazarbayev, Xi ready to enhance strategic ties

    China is ready to strengthen strategic coordination and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Kazakhstan, President of China Xi Jinping said May 14 at the meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is in Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
    Noting this year marks the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kazakhstan, Xi said China is willing to work with its neighbor in pushing their comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level and broader domain, Xinhua reported. He called on the two sides to strengthen law enforcement cooperation and crack down on the forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism.
    China supports Kazakhstan in playing a bigger role in affairs related to international peace and security, and is willing to deepen cooperation under the frameworks of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, Xi said.
    Nazarbayev, for his part, said Kazakhstan firmly supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and will actively align it with the nation's Bright Road initiative.
    "More than 60 countries, i.e. 45% of the world's population, are covered by this belt. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and China has become exemplary, and other countries can learn from us," Nazarbayev said.
    Kazakhstan is willing to deepen cooperation with China in such areas as trade, agriculture, mining industry, railway, and technology, he said, adding that it wants to closely cooperate with China on international and regional security and development issues, and boost the development of the SCO.
    The President of Kazakhstan noted the positive dynamics in the evolution of the relationship between the two states and expressed confidence in their further strengthening on the higher level.
    In addition, the parties discussed ensuring regional and cyber security.
    Xi Jinping thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for Kazakhstan's contribution to the Syrian conflict settlement.
    Xi also confirmed his readiness to pay official visit to Kazakhstan and attend SCO summit and the opening of EXPO-2017 trade show.
    The two leaders have also discussed a number of issues of bilateral cooperation.
    Chinese President Xi Jinping has highly appreciated the role of Kazakhstan in developing the Eurasian transit transportation potential during a panel session United Interaction for Interrelated Cooperation as part of the One Belt, One Road Forum, Kazinform special correspondent in China reports.
    "Kazakhstan pays great attention and plays an active stimulating role in infrastructure construction development, being actively involved in shaping cross-border transport and logistics system", the Chinese leader said commenting on the speech of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
    Xi Jinping has expressed the hope that with Kazakhstan's active support the level of Eurasian infrastructure interconnectivity will steadily rise paving the way to entire realisation of New Eurasian Continental Bridge's logistic and transport potential.
    Recall that Nursultan Nazarbayev is currently on a two-day visit to China to participate in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation themed "One Belt, One Road: cooperation for the sake of common prosperity. It is attended by leaders of 29 countries and heads of 3 international organisations, including the UN, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
    Reported by AKIpress, Kazinform.