CHINESE President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that he is ready to work with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to jointly build a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and inject more positive energy to the development and stability of the region and beyond.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana.

Noting he was delighted to visit beautiful Kazakhstan, Xi said that during this visit he personally felt the ever-growing momentum of the country. 

He said he trusts that under President Tokayev’s leadership, the people of Kazakhstan will succeed in building a strong and prosperous New Kazakhstan.

The friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan are rooted in the millennia-old ancient Silk Road, reinforced by 32 years of cooperation after the establishment of diplomatic relations, and have reached the high level of a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said.

Relations between China and Kazakhstan are defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing weal and woe, he noted.

Xi reiterated that no matter how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in its commitment to the China-Kazakhstan friendship, in its resolve to advance cooperation across the board, in its determination to continue mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, and in its confidence in both countries realizing their development goals.

Xi said that the Chinese side regards Kazakhstan as a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner for cooperation in Central Asia.

China’s will and determination to maintain and grow bilateral relations stand firm, and will not be changed due to any single incident or transformations in the international situation, Xi said.

China will always be a good neighbor and partner Kazakhstan can rely on and trust, he added.

The Chinese side, Xi also said, will continue to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in traditional energy such as natural gas, expand new energy cooperation including photovoltaic and wind power, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kazakhstan, and help Kazakhstan convert its resource advantages into development capabilities to achieve green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Xi is on a state visit to Kazakhstan and will attend here the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

 Welcome ceremony

Also yesterday, Kazakh fighter jets painted the sky with colored smoke trails as Tokayev hosted a welcome ceremony for Xi.

A group of six jets, while flying over the presidential palace, left behind them colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag.

On Tuesday, three Kazakh Air Force fighter jets took off to escort Xi’s plane after it entered the country’s airspace. Tokayev held a grand welcome ceremony at the airport.