Xi arrives in Kazakhstan for 24th meeting of SCO Heads of State Council, state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana on Tuesday for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a state visit to Kazakhstan.

This is President Xi's fifth visit to Kazakhstan, which is expected to further enhancing and upgrading China-Kazakhstan relations, and enriching the high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries.

Xi's plane was escorted by three Kazakh Air Force fighter jets after it entered the country's airspace.

Tokayev held a grand welcome ceremony at the airport for Xi.

A group of Kazakh children sang the song "Ode to the Motherland" in Chinese.

In a written statement upon his arrival at the airport, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the friendly people of Kazakhstan on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

He pointed out that over the past 32 years since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties, the relationship has withstood the test of time and the vicissitudes of the international landscape, evolving into a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. He also said that the everlasting friendship of the two nations has grown stronger over time, and set an example of solidarity, mutual benefit, and mutual success between neighboring countries.

Xi recalled that 11 years ago, he first put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan, adding that today, Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results.

He said that during the visit, he will hold talks with President Tokayev and have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Kazakhstan relations, all-round cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to make new plans and arrangements for the development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi also said that he looks forward to attending the SCO summit, and discussing with all parties the future of the organization and ways to advance cooperation, so as to achieve new and greater progress for this important multilateral mechanism.

On his way from the airport to his hotel, Xi was warmly greeted by people from all walks of life in Kazakhstan.

Xi arrives in Kazakhstan for 24th meeting of SCO Heads of State Council, state visit

Tajik scholars highlighted the rapid growth of economic cooperation between Tajikistan and its main trading partner China, while anticipating a new chapter of bilateral ties following President Xi Jinping's visit to the central Asian country.

From July 2 to 6, Xi is scheduled to 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.

According to Sharif Rahimzoda, director of the Institute of Economics and Demography of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, China is one of Tajikistan's most important trading partners and the relationship is expected to further grow.

"Undoubtedly, during President Xi's visit, the two countries will sign new agreements on new cooperation areas and attract more investments, thus fostering closer economic cooperation relations. More enterprises and investment projects will be involved in implementing the strategic plans outlined by the leaders of the two countries, such as the development of digital economy and green economy, and the application of digital technologies in various sectors of the national economy," Rahimzoda said in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) in Duschanbe on Tuesday.

"With assistance from China, we have successfully embarked on a new path to modernization up to international standards. A mere decade ago, it was hard to imagine that Tajikistan should be able to produce cement independently, yet today, with China's help, we are already able to export cement to other countries. And Tajikistan used to have limited gold mining capacity, but with the help of China's investment, our gold mining capacity has significantly improved, which has effectively promoted our economic development," said Rahmon Ulmasov, professor at the Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University, in an interview with CMG also in Duschanbe on Tuesday.

"I believe that President Xi Jinping's current visit will open a new chapter in China-Tajikistan relations and determine the orientation of cooperative development between our countries in the next three to four decades," Ulmasov said.

Tajik scholars highlight growing China-Tajikistan economic cooperation