China, Kazakhstan sign 24 deals on expanding cooperation ahead of regional summit

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Kazakhstan signed 24 agreements Monday on expanding cooperation ahead of a regional summit this week.

Kazakhstan’s Presidential Press Office said on Telegram that the intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents were signed following talks between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his visiting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Astana a day before the country’s capital will host the 2nd Central Asia-China Summit.

It said the documents cover bilateral cooperation in fields such as energy, aerospace, digitalization, agriculture, tourism, medicine, media and science.

“In addition, agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments and on technical and economic cooperation were signed at the intergovernmental level,” the statement said.

During the talks, Tokayev was quoted telling his Chinese counterpart in an earlier statement that cooperation between the two countries is developing at an “unprecedented” pace thanks to Xi’s personal support, describing his visit to Astana as “clear evidence” of the close ties between the two countries.

Tokayev said that Chinese-Kazakh ties have reached a new "golden period," the statement said, quoting him describing China as a “good neighbor, close friend and reliable partner of Kazakhstan.”

“China never sets any political conditions in cooperation with Kazakhstan. We appreciate your continued support for our sovereignty and security guarantees. We support China's peace-loving initiatives and highly appreciate the key role of your country in building a fair world order,” he said.

The Kazakh president also focused on the issue of bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, saying Astana decided to build “at least two or three” nuclear power plants and that corresponding work is underway to ensure the participation of large companies.

In this regard, Kazakhstan considers China National Nuclear Corporation as a “reliable strategic partner,” Tokayev said, adding that the state-owned enterprise is “known worldwide for its high competence, so it will certainly occupy a worthy niche in our market.”

Xi was quoted as saying that relations between China and Kazakhstan have “stood the test of the changing world situation” and continue to develop dynamically.

“I am ready to work with you to steadily strengthen the friendship between China and Kazakhstan and advance our multifaceted cooperation hand in hand, so that Chinese-Kazakh relations make an even greater contribution to the development of the region and the world as a whole,” he said.

President Xi expressed China's willingness to cooperate with Kazakhstan to further regional and global peace and development, drawing on the stability and positive momentum of their bilateral relationship, according to statement by China's Foreign Ministry.

He emphasized the importance of mutual support on key issues concerning each country’s core interests and the alignment of their development strategies.

He also called for both nations to uphold genuine multilateralism and work together to protect the shared interests of the broader developing world.