China, Kazakhstan pledge to deepen cooperation

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, Wang said China and Kazakhstan, connected by mountains and rivers, are good neighbors, friends and good partners.

China firmly supports Kazakhstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and opposes any external forces interfering in the internal affairs of Kazakhstan, Wang said, adding that China will always be a trustworthy and reliable friend and partner of Kazakhstan.

Noting China's development represents a growing peaceful force in the world, enhances stability and strengthens the capabilities of developing countries and emerging economies, Wang said China's development and revitalization will bring new opportunities to other countries including Kazakhstan.

He said that in 2023, the leaders of the two countries jointly established the goal of building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, setting a new benchmark for the development of bilateral relations, providing new momentum and opening up new prospects.

During Kazakhstan's historical process of building a New Kazakhstan, China is willing to be a reliable and long-term partner, supporting the diversification of Kazakhstan's economic development and promoting cooperation in emerging industries such as e-commerce, new energy and artificial intelligence, Wang said.

China is also committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation with Kazakhstan within the multilateral framework, including the China-Central Asia mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, Wang stressed.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan will continue to firmly uphold the one-China policy and be a good partner and good friend that China can always rely on under all circumstances.

Kazakhstan is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China and strengthen the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, comprehensively deepen practical cooperation and continuously expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

(With input from Xinhua)