China and Kazakhstan on Saturday pledged concerted efforts to further deepen strategic partnership, expand comprehensive cooperation and strengthen coordination on regional and international affairs.

The commitment appeared center stage in a joint communique released by the two governments as Chinese President Hu Jintao rounded off his two-day state visit to Kazakhstan after holding friendly and in-depth talks with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev and other Kazakh leaders over bilateral relations and current regional and international situations.

Establishing a strategic China-Kazakhstan partnership based on equality and mutual trust was a long-sighted decision of historic significance, which would remarkably contribute to deepening comprehensive cooperation, enhancing friendship between the two peoples and safeguarding regional security, the two leaders said.

Pointing out that deepening the strategic partnership was a diplomatic priority for both countries and accorded with the fundamental interests of both peoples, the two sides agreed to further enhance high-level political dialogues and deepen all-round bilateral cooperation.

China applauded Kazakhstan's firm adherence to the one-China policy and its efforts to promote regional peace and stability and solve regional problems in Central Asia, while Nazarbayev expressed gratitude to Hu for China's long-running support for Kazakhstan's diplomatic initiatives.

The two presidents agreed their countries must deepen cooperation under both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms in fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism, organized transnational crimes, drug-trafficking, smuggling and other criminal activities, and thus enhance coordination in law enforcement, defense and security.

In view of new threats and challenges confronting regional security, the two countries vowed to maintain high-level coordination and consultation and jointly take responsive measures.

Meanwhile, the two sides agreed to broaden cooperation in regional and international affairs to create a favorable international environment for their national development.

China and Kazakhstan would also deepen coordination and collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations (U.N.), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia and commit themselves to promoting peace, stability and development both regionally and globally, the communique said.

Noting their countries shared extensive common interests and similar stances over regional and international issues, the two heads of state emphasized the need to continue helping Kyrgyzstan revive its economy and providing the country with humanitarian assistance, and called upon U.N. and other world bodies to continue coordinating international aid to Kyrgyzstan.