Xi calls for strengthening relations with Kazakhstan

President Xi Jinping called on Thursday for China and Kazakhstan to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies and policies, and continuously enhance pragmatic cooperation to promote shared development.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai. Tokayev arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, which is set to open on Friday.

Xi said that amid the profound and complex changes of the international landscape unseen in a century, the China-Kazakhstan relationship has stood the test of time and become strengthened over time.

The permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has maintained strong momentum, demonstrating immense cooperation potential and broad development prospects, he said.

Xi emphasized that firmly advancing comprehensive cooperation between China and Kazakhstan aligns with the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples. He called on both countries to promote the innovative development of trade, optimize trade structures and foster new business models in cross-border e-commerce and trade in services.

It is important to expand cooperation in energy and mineral resources, accelerate the implementation of key projects, promote the development of mutual connectivity, increase direct flights and improve the facilitation of international road transport, he said.

Xi said that China is willing to share technologies in the fields of the digital economy and artificial intelligence to assist Kazakhstan in achieving digital transformation.

He also called on both sides to well organize related activities to make the China-Kazakhstan Year of Cultural Exchange a success, and to strengthen cooperation in education, science and technology, healthcare, sports and media to solidify the foundation of friendship from one generation to another.

China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to jointly implement the four major global initiatives (the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative), and strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the China-Central Asia mechanism, in order to jointly uphold international equity and justice, Xi said.

Noting that China has just celebrated the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Xi said that the reason why the CPC has been able to achieve continuous glory through its endeavors and why history and the people have chosen the CPC lies fundamentally in its excellent qualities.

The Party is committed to seeking truth, deeply rooted in the people, courageously rises to its historical missions, and follows the trend of development, Xi said, adding that it is also courageous and able to fight and remains committed to continuous self-improvement.

This is the key code behind why the CPC works, he said.

Tokayev warmly congratulated the CPC on its 105th founding anniversary and commended China's remarkable development achievements under Xi's leadership.

He said that Kazakhstan regards its relationship with China as a top priority in its foreign policy and is committed to continuously strengthening its permanent comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Kazakhstan highly appreciates and supports the four major global initiatives and the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, all proposed by Xi, and is willing to maintain high-level collaboration with China on multilateral platforms, actively engage in global AI governance cooperation, Tokayev said.