Tidbits

Mandarin speaker

Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov, a fluent Mandarin speaker, studied in China and headed a trading operation in Hong Kong. While addressing business leaders from both countries on Sunday, Masimov welcomed China's representatives in Mandarin. "A Chinese saying goes that friendship is priceless," he said, to much applause. Premier Li Keqiang said he admired Masimov's language proficiency, and added he was inclined to learn Kazakh, to bring the two countries closer together.

Gift to Masimov