Chinese, Kazakh presidents meet on ties, regional security

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) holds a welcoming ceremony for President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev before their talks in Shanghai, east China, May 19, 2014. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks Monday with visiting Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The two presidents exchanged views on China-Kazakhstan relations and international, regional issues of common concern, agreed to enhance bilateral strategic cooperation, safeguard regional security and stability.

Nazarbayev is on a state visit to China from May 19 to 22. During his stay in Shanghai, he will attend the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Hailing recent achievements of China-Kazakhstan ties, Xi said that mutual political trust and cooperation in various fields have reached an unprecedented high level. Bilateral cooperation has a promising future as the two countries push forward their own development plans.

Xi called on the two sides to promote mid- and long-term economic cooperation. China welcomes Kazakhstan to actively participate in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, he said.

He hoped the two countries to deepen energy and resources cooperation, strengthen cooperation on agriculture, telecommunications, creative industries, high-technology and other fields.

The two countries should also push forward local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, Xi said, noting the two sides are planning cooperation in adjacent areas.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking and safeguarding network and information security, said the Chinese president.

Xi also urged the two sides to enhance coordination in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to jointly safeguard regional security and stability.