On the afternoon of January 24, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Speaker of the Upper House of the Kazakhstan Parliament Kasymzhomart Tokayev in the Great Hall of the People.

Hu said that the bilateral relations have developed rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kazakhstan 16 years ago. The leaders of both countries keep close contacts with ever deepening mutual understanding and friendship. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation expands continuously and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have achieved remarkable fruits. Both countries maintain sound coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs as well as key issues of common concern. We are satisfied with the development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

China and Kazakhstan are close good neighbors and strategic partners with sincere cooperation. China attaches importance to the relations with Kazakhstan and makes it one of the top priorities of its diplomacy to consolidate and deepen the bilateral strategic partnership. We support the legislatures and their special committees and the parliamentary friendship groups of both countries in strengthening the friendly exchanges and promoting the all-round progress of bilateral relations. We expect to make joint efforts with Kazakhstan to enhance the mutual trust and friendship, expand the pragmatic cooperation in various fields and raise the bilateral strategic partnership to higher levels, noted Hu.

Tokayev said that it is the common aspiration of the government, parliament and people of Kazakhstan to develop relations with China. The bilateral relations will soon enter into a critical period of time. Kazakhstan earnestly hopes that both sides actively implement the existing agreements and seek more mutually beneficial cooperation. The parliament of Kazakhstan will learn from the legislation experience of China's National People's Congress (NPC) in the economic field and contribute more to pushing forward the bilateral relations and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

Vice-chairwoman of NPC Standing Committee He Luli was present at the meeting.