President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shake hands on Monday during a ceremony for exchanging cooperation documents in Astana, Kazakhstan. Xi arrived in Astana earlier in the day to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev shake hands on Monday during a ceremony for exchanging cooperation documents in Astana, Kazakhstan. Xi arrived in Astana earlier in the day to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

President Xi Jinping called on China and Kazakhstan on Monday to guide their bilateral ties with high-level strategic mutual trust, saying that the two countries should serve as strong support for each other amid challenges and provide beneficial assistance to each other's development and revitalization.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

The Chinese president arrived in Astana earlier on Monday to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit. He was welcomed by Tokayev and other senior officials at the airport. Kazakh teenagers and children, holding the national flags of China and Kazakhstan, warmly welcomed Xi on his arrival.

Xi told Tokayev that China always views and develops its relationship with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective.

"I'm willing to work together with you to steadfastly consolidate the friendship between the two countries and contribute more to regional and world peace and development with stability and positive energy of China-Kazakhstan relations," he said.

Xi said efforts should be made for China and Kazakhstan to upgrade bilateral cooperation through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

He called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in traditional areas including trade, investment and energy, advance the construction of cross-border railway projects and the upgrading of port infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields, and promote green and sustainable development.

Xi said that China and Kazakhstan should continue to support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns, and promote the synergy of their development strategies.

He called on both countries to expand law enforcement and defense exchanges, and jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The two sides should strengthen the foundation of China-Kazakhstan friendship through diverse people-to-people exchanges, and make the China tourism year in Kazakhstan a success, he said, urging efforts to encourage more exchanges among youth, media, think tanks and local regions.

Amid a complex and turbulent international situation, Xi called on the two countries to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and to practice true multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

As the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China will work with all member countries and take the opportunity of this year's SCO summit in Tianjin to make the SCO more substantive and stronger, thus showcasing new developments, breakthroughs and dynamics, Xi said.

Tokayev said that China is Kazakhstan's friendly neighbor, close friend and trustworthy partner.

Kazakhstan and China have a strong political will to enhance cooperation and consistently support each other on issues related to sovereignty, security and other core interests, unaffected by changes in the international situation, he said.

Representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese overseas students line the streets in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday to welcome President Xi Jinping after his motorcade left the airport for the hotel. LIU JIE/XINHUA

After their talks, the two presidents jointly witnessed the exchange of more than 10 cooperation documents, covering areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, customs, tourism and media.

Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and shares a 1,700-plus-kilometer border with China. In 2022, the two countries agreed on the vision of building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing of weal and woe.

Observers said that the two heads of state have provided significant strategic guidance for the sustainable development of bilateral ties.

Xiao Bin, a researcher of Central Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in recent years has been accelerating and expanding across multiple fields, laying a solid foundation for the new "golden 30 years".

"China's trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan has not only provided the Kazakh people with a genuine sense of benefit, but has also contributed to the diversification of Kazakhstan's economy and the stability of its society," Xiao said.

In addition to enhancing and improving traditional areas of cooperation, China and Kazakhstan are also exploring emerging areas of collaboration, including green development, by launching a hydrogen energy innovation cooperation center, he added.