Vice President Zeng Qinghong arrived in Kazakh capital Astana on
Monday for a four-day official visit and to attend, on behalf of
President Hu Jintao, the inauguration ceremony of the country's
newly-reelected President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
He was greeted at the airport by Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister
Akhmetzhan Esimov, Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev
and Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiyun.
In a written statement issued at the airport upon his arrival,
Zeng said the establishment of the strategic partnership between
China and Kazakhstan last year marked a new phase in the
development of the two countries' bilateral relationship.
Relations between China and Kazakhstan have developed stably
since they established diplomatic ties 14 years ago and the two
countries have expanded cooperation in the fields of politics,
economy, trade, energy, security and humanities.
China attaches great importance to the Sino-Kazakh relationship
and regards Kazakhstan as "a good neighbor, good partner and good
friend," Zeng said.
During his visit, Zeng is scheduled to hold talks with Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev and also meet with Kazakh Prime
Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Senate (upper
house) N. Abykaev and Chairman of the Mazhlis (lower house of
parliament) Ural Muhamedzanov.
Zeng said under the guidelines of furthering bilateral relations
set out by the two heads of state, he will discuss with Kazakh
leaders how to strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation in
different fields and also exchange views on regional and
international issues.
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2006)
