China, Kazakhstan vow to enhance strategic partnership

China and Kazakhstan on Monday expressed the desire to further enhance pragmatic cooperation and build a stronger strategic partnership.

Kazakhstan is eagerly awaiting the scheduled state visit in September by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and is ready to work with the Chinese side to lift the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height, Kazakh Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Astana on Monday.

The Kazakh leader noted that pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has developed rapidly with a sound momentum, adding that there is still great potential for bilateral cooperation in areas like economy and trade, energy, agriculture and transportation.

Wang said that President Xi's upcoming visit to Kazakhstan, the first since he took office early this year, is of great significance to the long-term development of Sino-Kazakh relations. He expressed hope that both sides would seize this opportunity to lay a solid foundation for their comprehensive strategic partnership.

In a separate meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrisov here on Monday, Wang pointed out that as a large developing country, China would mainly focus on its own development. Meanwhile, it is also willing to shoulder due responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and development.

"China's development is a reinforcement of the force for world peace," said the top Chinese diplomat.

Idrisov said that as one of China's neighboring countries, Kazakhstan hopes to see China play a more important role in both international and regional affairs.

Wang also met with Karim Masimov, head of the Kazakh Presidential Administration, in Astana the same day.