China to further cooperation with Kazakhstan amid Hu's impending visit

Addressing a news briefing about Hu's visit, Assistant Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping spoke highly of the growth of China-Kazakhstan relations, stressing that China highly values its ties with Kazakhstan and regards the country as a priority in its foreign policy.

At the invitation of Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Hu will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan from June 12 to 14, the first leg of his nine-day Asia-Europe visit which will also take him to Russia and Ukraine.

According to Xinhua, Hu is scheduled to hold talks with Nazarbayev and meet with the Kazakh prime minister, Cheng said. "We have witnessed increasing political mutual trust, over 20 billion U.S. dollars in trade volume, expanded cooperation in key areas such as energy and security and close coordination under multilateral frameworks between the two countries," Cheng noted.

According to Cheng, China expects to lay a foundation for the future development of Sino-Kazakh relations by further boosting mutual cooperation with the central Asian nation, especially on issues related to the key concerns of the two countries.

Cheng also voiced his hope that the two nations forge greater cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism and intensify their coordination in regional and international organizations.

The two nations will also sign and issue joint documents during President Hu's visit, Cheng added.

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