UPDATE - Chinese President Xi arrives in Kazakhstan ahead of 2nd China-Central Asia summit

UPDATES WITH REPORT ON XI'S ARRIVAL; ADDS BACKGROUND; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq and Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan for a three-day visit to attend the second edition of a summit with five Central Asian nations, Chinese state media reported on Monday.

Xi's arrival in the Kazakh capital was confirmed by the Xinhua News Agency, days after his visit to the country was announced by Beijing, which said is being conducted at the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev from June 16 to 18.

The Chinese president's arrival also comes a day before the Central Asian nation is set to host the 2nd China-Central Asia summit, also in Astana.

The first such summit was held in Xian in central China’s Shaanxi province in May 2023.

Leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan are also expected to attend the summit in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Last Wednesday, Kazakhstan's presidential press service Akorda announced that Xi would arrive in the country on June 16-17, where the two heads of state plan to hold a bilateral meeting on deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The statement also declared that the 2nd Central Asia-China summit will be held in Astana on June 17.

The cumulative trade volume between China and Central Asian nations last year climbed to around $94.8 billion.