Chinese leader awarded highest Kazakh honor

President Xi Jinping was awarded the Order of the Golden Eagle, or "Altyn Qyran" Order, the highest honor of Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who presented Xi with the order, praised Xi for his historic role in and huge contributions to promoting ties between the two countries, and said Xi's visit to his country will go down in the history of Kazakhstan-China relations.

The Order of the Golden Eagle is awarded to individuals in recognition of their significant contribution to Kazakhstan's national development and friendly external relations.

Kazakhstan is ready to work with China to advance the shared prosperity and development of the two countries, promote the wellbeing of the two peoples and join hands to create an even brighter future, Tokayev said.

He also said that Xi is truly a great leader who has won the wholehearted support of the Chinese people, and added that under Xi's leadership, China has gained great development achievements and will realize the grand goal of fully building a modern socialist country as scheduled.

By putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative and calling for building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi has made outstanding contributions to promoting a new type of international relations, Tokayev said. He also spoke highly of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, both of which were proposed by Xi.

In his remarks upon receiving the Order of the Golden Eagle, Xi said that Tokayev's presenting him with the order shows the great importance that Kazakhstan places on its ties with China and the goodwill of the people of Kazakhstan toward the Chinese people, and that he cherishes the order deeply.

Bilateral ties have been developing at a high level in the past three decades since the two countries established diplomatic relations, Xi said.

The political mutual trust between the two countries has been strengthened and bilateral cooperation has flourished in various fields, he said.

A bright future lies ahead for the lasting friendship, win-win cooperation and shared prosperity between the two countries, he added.