Astana, Jul 2 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Tuesday on a state visit to Kazakhstan, where he is to participate in the summit of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The SCO summit is scheduled to be held between July 3-4 in Astana.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Xi at Astana airport. Afterwards, a detachment of the National Guard paid him military honors.
Xi’s fifth state visit to Kazakhstan
This is the Chinese leader’s fifth state visit to Kazakhstan.
“China stands ready to join hands with Kazakhstan in response to the changes of historic significance that are taking place in our world and in our times. We need to foster new opportunities amid crises, and open up new horizons on a shifting landscape,” Xi said in an article by Kazakh state-owned Kazinform agency on Tuesday.
“China will work with Kazakhstan to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, act on true multilateralism, oppose hegemonism, power politics and bloc confrontation,” he added.
After bilateral talks with his Kazakh counterpart, Xi is to participate in the summit of the leaders of the SCO. Furthermore, he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the event.
The SCO was created for collaboration in regional security, the fight against terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. Currently China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are SCO members.
In addition, at the 24th SCO summit in Astana, Belarus is expected to become its 10th member. EFE