Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo also met respectively with Nazarbayev earlier on Tuesday, exploring ways to further bilateral pragmatic cooperation and parliamentary exchanges.

Wen said the relations between both countries had witnessed rapid growth in recent years, which played an important role in safeguarding regional security and promoting economic growth.

He said he believed there was much room to grow the cooperation, particularly in the areas such as energy, agriculture, transportation, finance and technology.

"The Chinese government is ready to enhance coordination with Kazakhstan to implement various agreements and consensus, to exert the principal role of enterprises, and promote greater achievements of bilateral cooperation," the premier said.

Appreciating China's support for his country in countering global financial crisis, Nazarbayev vowed to work closely with China to facilitate cooperation in trade, energy and transportation areas.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, stressed the importance of parliamentary exchanges in overall bilateral relations.

He said the NPC would continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Kazakh parliament, and contribute to the development of China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership.

Nazarbayev said he would support a closer relationship between the two legislative bodies.

He called China a close friend and strategic partner of his country. Kazakhstan, which is mapping out a development plan for the next five years, wants to learn from China's 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015) and its experience in building an innovative nation, he added.

Nazarbayev will also visit north China's Tianjin.