ASTANA: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday to attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and pay a state visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Two fighter jets from the Kazakh Air Defense Forces escorted Xi’s plane as it entered Kazakh airspace.
Tokayev, along with other senior Kazakh officials, greeted Xi at the airport and held a grand welcome ceremony for him.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Xi made a written statement extending his sincere greetings and best wishes to the people of Kazakhstan on behalf of the Chinese government and people.
Xi stated that China and Kazakhstan have established a unique, permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, setting an example of relations between neighboring countries that benefit each other and achieve mutual success.
He mentioned that during the visit, he will hold talks with President Tokayev and engage in an in-depth exchange of views on China-Kazakhstan relations, comprehensive cooperation, and other international and regional issues of common concern. This dialogue aims to devise new plans and arrangements for the development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi also expressed his anticipation for attending the SCO summit, discussing with all parties the future of the organization and ways to advance cooperation, in order to achieve new and greater progress for this important multilateral mechanism.
