Rafael Bekshentayev, a graduate from Renmin University of China and a native of Kazakhstan, spoke to CGTN's Enoch Wong about the considerable excitement generated by the ongoing 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) among Kazakhs, especially the younger generation. The simultaneous celebration of the Kazakhstan Tourism Year in China is also set to strengthen bilateral ties by promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Visa-free travel between the two nations, initiated in late 2023, is expected to boost tourism, allowing more Chinese visitors to experience Kazakhstan firsthand and fostering deeper ties and long-term cooperation.