China and Kazakhstan expect to welcome a prosperous development of their relations thanks to the introduction of a series of measures aimed at promoting people-to-people exchanges and tourism, said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of the Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper, in Beijing on Sunday.
During an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Korzhumbayev expressed his expectations regarding the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to his country.
From July 2 to 6, Xi will attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan.
"I think the leaders may engage in discussions regarding the upcoming commemorative events that will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and also the economic issues, which have always been a topic of discussion," said Korzhumbayev.
Korzhumbayev believes that the launch of the Kazakhstan tourism year in China and the mutual visa exemption agreement between the two countries will lead to an increase in people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. "This year, China and Kazakhstan celebrate the Kazakhstan Year of Tourism in China. It is very important for both of our countries. The two countries have introduced mutual visa exemption. My colleagues and I have witnessed a notable influx of Chinese tourists in some beautiful cities of Kazakhstan, including Almaty and Astana. At the same time, citizens of Kazakhstan have the opportunity to visit China through the visa-free policy. This is quite good, and I think it indicates a promising prospect for the future development," said Korzhumbayev.
China, Kazakhstan to welcome prosperous development of bilateral ties: editor-in-chief of Delovoy Kazakhstan
China and Kazakhstan have witnessed an upsurge in people-to-people and cultural exchanges in recent years, a development that Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed in a signed article published in Kazakh media outlets prior to his visit to the central Asian country.
Xi arrived for a state visit to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, where he will also attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
On the same day, the signed article from the Chinese president was published in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper and Kazinform International News Agency under the title "Staying True to Our Shared Commitment and Opening a New Chapter in China-Kazakhstan Relations."
In the article, Xi highlighted the enduring friendship between the Chinese and Kazakh peoples, citing an example involving Chinese musician Xian Xinhai and Kazakh composer Bakhytzhan Baikadamov.
Over 80 years ago, Xian and Baikadamov met and became close and devoted friends despite their different nationalities and languages.
"In 1943, my father happened to meet Xian Xinghai, who was sitting on a box holding a violin. Seeing how helpless and homeless Xian was, my father took his hand and brought him home," Baikadamova's daughter Baldyrgan said.
Xi also mentioned the much-respected Kazakh ophthalmologist Saulebek Kabibekov, who treated more than 200,000 patients during his 25-year stay in northeastern China.
There was also a nod to the hugely popular Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen, who took China by storm after he won the second place in a popular reality singing competition, "Singer 2017", and later had the chance to meet Xi.
"I first met President Xi in 2017. After the performance, he came to me and told me about his impressions [of] my work and musical journey in China. Since then, I've been exploring Chinese culture and history which, of course, has inspired me infinitely," said Kudaibergen.
People-to-people exchanges between the two countries have also become more frequent since mutual visa-exemption arrangements took effect last year, facilitating greater travel between the two sides.
Last year, a total of 600,000 cross-border trips were recorded. In the first quarter of 2024, the number of visits in both directions had already amounted to 200,000 and are expected to reach a new high by the end of the year.
China, Kazakhstan see upsurge in people-to-people, cultural exchanges
