China, Kazakhstan to further integrate development strategies as ties flourish

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 8, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

ASTANA - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kazakh counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev, vowed Thursday to accelerate the alignment of their countries' respective development policies and push bilateral ties to a higher level.

During their talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana, the two presidents agreed to further integrate the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's development strategy of "Nurly Zhol," or "Bright Path" in the Kazakh language.

The two countries will focus on aligning the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the construction of an economic corridor linking China, central Asia and west Asia, with the Kazakh strategy of building an international logistics corridor.

Meanwhile, they will join efforts in connecting the international production capacity cooperation with Kazakhstan's push for industrialization, sharing China's transportation advantages on land and by sea with the world's biggest landlocked country, and linking China's "digital Silk Road" initiative with the "digital Kazakhstan" strategy.

Xi and Nazarbayev also hailed the "great achievements" made in bilateral ties since China and Kazakhstan forged diplomatic relations 25 years ago and decided to push the healthy and stable development of their comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, so as to better serve the two peoples.

Xi attributed the development of bilateral ties by leaps and bounds in a relatively short period to the spirit of good neighborliness, mutual benefit and mutual support upheld by the two countries, the principles of mutual respect and equality, as well as their generations of friendship and the concept of common development.

Noting that the political mutual trust between China and Kazakhstan has reached an unprecedented height, with frequent high-level contact and close coordination in international affairs, Xi said China is willing to build a stronger community of shared interests and shared future with Kazakhstan.

Nazarbayev warmly welcomed Xi, saying his visit, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, will greatly facilitate the Kazakhstan-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Noting that bilateral ties are developing with a sound momentum and bear huge potential, Nazarbayev said his country stands ready to deepen win-win cooperation with China in such fields as economy and trade, politics and culture, and carry out closer communication and coordination under the frameworks of the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The building of the Belt and Road Initiative, first proposed by President Xi in Astana, is of major significance, said Nazarbayev.

He pledged to actively participate in cooperation in areas including cross-border transportation, production capacity, industrial parks, finance, agriculture, people-to-people and culture exchanges under the Belt and Road framework.

The initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe, Africa, along the ancient trade routes.

The Chinese president arrived here Wednesday for a state visit to Kazakhstan and the 17th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.