The official ceremony of awarding the First President of Kazakhstan with the Order of Friendship for his contribution to promoting good-neighborly bilateral relations and developing a comprehensive strategic partnership between states was held at the House of People's Assembly of the People's Republic of China.

- I would like to note that since the first days of establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, I have been working to develop and strengthen the cooperation of independent Kazakhstan with China. I am very glad that we managed to build trustful and good-neighborly relations with your state. Our collaboration is revealing. Our countries jointly make a significant contribution to ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and globally, Elbasy said during his speech.

Nursultan Nazarbayev focused on the process of promoting One Belt, One Road initiative, stressing its importance in sustainable global development.

- For a relatively short period of time, One Belt, One Road Project was included in the list of so-called global “success stories”. Mr. Xi Jinping’s unifying idea of ​​development is the effective response to modern challenges. The new platform of international cooperation proposed by China plays an increasingly important political, economic and cultural role in the development of many countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, the First President of Kazakhstan said.

Elbasy noted that the Second Forum of International Cooperation, One Belt, One Road, became an important platform for developштп mutually beneficial cooperation.

The First President of Kazakhstan also emphasized the joint work of the two countries on implementing economic projects.

- I take this opportunity to congratulate you, Chairman Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and the people on the success of One Belt, One Road Forum. I am confident that under your personal leadership and the Communist Party of China all the goals and objectives set for building socialism with Chinese characteristics of the “new era” and implementing the “Chinese dream” will be realized, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

The First President of Kazakhstan once again thanked the leadership and the people of China for the award and hospitality provided.

- I hope for the further deepening of the Kazakh-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership in the name of the prosperity and well-being of our peoples. I wish you continued success in responsible government activities, and I wish peace and prosperity to the friendly people of China, Nursultan Nazarbayev concluded.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting the merits of the First President of Kazakhstan in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly focused on Elbasy’s contribution to international cooperation.

- Today we are holding a solemn ceremony to present the first foreign president the Order of Friendship, to the longtime and great friend of the Chinese people to the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. President Nazarbayev enjoys prestige throughout the world; he is the founder of the Kazakh-Chinese all-round strategic partnership and always moves his development forward. Kazakhstan is the founding country of the SCO and the initiator of the CICA. With his foresight, President Nazarbayev is promoting the development of these organizations, making a significant contribution to maintaining peace and stability at the regional and global levels, Xi Jinping said.

Press Service of the First President of Kazakhstan - Elbasy