Senate speaker reaffirms Kazakhstan's course towards strong relations with China
NUR-SULTAN. April 2 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan will remain committed to the comprehensive strengthening of its strategic partnership with China, according to Kazakh Senate Speaker Dariga Nazarbayeva.
"Kazakhstan is set to continue implementing the agreements reached between Elbasy [national leader] Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the basis of deep friendship, neighborliness, and mutual understanding. We reaffirm our commitment to the course towards strengthening our comprehensive, strategic partnership," Nazarbayeva said during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiao held at the latter's request.
The Senate press service reported the meeting on Tuesday.
Zhang conveyed greetings from Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, on the occasion of Nazarbayeva's election as Senate speaker and wished her success.
"We appreciate your personal contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary relations and your support for China's One Belt, One Road initiative," Zhang said.
The Chinese ambassador informed the Senate speaker of preparations for a visit of first Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to China, where he would attend the 2nd international forum "One Belt, One Road."
The participants noted positive trends in bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as a growth in bilateral trade turnover, and said it was possible to boost interaction in the fields of investment, agriculture, tourism, culture, and humanitarian affairs.
Nazarbayeva noted the need for accelerating youth cooperation, including student exchanges and education grants.
She also mentioned the Kazakh population of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and said that ethnic Kazakh residents of China were "a bridge of friendship" between the two countries. The sides agreed to address any problems arising in this connection in a constructive and reciprocal fashion.
In addition, Nazarbayeva highlighted the issuance of tourist and individual visas to citizens of Kazakhstan, the press service said.