Experts, officials say stronger Kazakhstan-China ties of historic significance

As Kazakhstan and China, in the spirit of partnership for win-win cooperation, decided to develop a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, it is of historic significance, Kazakh experts and officials have said.

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in October, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid his first state visit to China since he was sworn in as Kazakh president in March, and Kazakhstan-China relations enter a new stage, Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Delovoy Kazakhstan, said Thursday, noting that these all come with special significance.

The Kazakh president's visit is rich in content as well as pragmatic, and the outcome documents will bear testimony to the continuation in friendly bilateral ties, Korzhumbayev added.

Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of the China Studies Center in Kazakhstan, told Xinhua on Thursday that Tokayev's visit is of importance because it further strengthens Kazakh-Sino ties.

"The state visit is substantial in content," the expert said, adding that the two sides have announced a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, which signals that bilateral ties are to be a priority in their international relations.

During his visit, Tokayev met with business people from both countries and visited large Chinese companies in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. Such arrangements are of pragmatic significance, Shaimergenova added.

Besides, Kazakhstan and China have signed documents in such areas as agricultural trade, emergency cooperation, information technology and e-commerce, providing new momentum for both sides to further tapping into potential for cooperation, the expert said.

Murat Nurtleuov, assistant to the Kazakh president, recently told media that Tokayev's visit serves Kazakhstan's long-term strategic interests.

Nurtleuov said that in the past centuries, Kazakhstan and China have maintained close ties through the Silk Road. Today, it is of great significance to align both countries' development strategies, namely Kazakhstan's "Bright Road" new economic policy and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

To date, more than 250 inter-governmental or inter-departmental agreements have been reached between Kazakhstan and China, showing the aspiration of the two sides to deepen their cooperative relations, Nurtleuov said.