China’s Xi hails ‘unique’ links with Kazakhstan, ‘looks forward’ to SCO summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Astana for state visit and annual SCO summit alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin, before trip to Tajikistan

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Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in Astana, after being received by his Kazakhstan counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (right). Photo: AFP/Kazakhstan’s presidential press service

Published: 9:43pm, 2 Jul 2024

President Xi Jinping hailed China’s long-standing “unique” ties with Kazakhstan as he arrived in the Central Asian country on Tuesday for a state visit.

He also pledged an “in-depth exchange of views” on bilateral and international matters with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who received the Chinese leader at the airport in the capital Astana.

China and Kazakhstan have developed “a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership” in 32 years of diplomatic ties and a friendship that “has endured for generations”, Xi said.

“I am looking forward to an in-depth exchange of views with [President Tokayev] on China-Kazakhstan relations as well as on international and regional issues of common concerns … and to make new arrangements for the development [of relations],” he added.

In Astana, Xi will also attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security-focused bloc largely led by Beijing, before heading to Tajikistan for a state visit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among SCO leaders taking part in the summit. It is expected to run over Wednesday and Thursday.