On Sep. 7, 2013, local time, President Xi Jinping held talks in Astana with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. The two heads of state reviewed the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, made overall planning for the future cooperation and reached extensive, important consensus on deepening the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping expressed that the compressive strategic partnership between the two countries is an example for good-neighbourly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese side is glad to see a stable, strong and prosperous Kazakhstan. China firmly supports Kazakhstan for following a development path suited to its own national conditions, supports the Kazakh side for safeguarding state sovereignty and independence and for promoting economic and social development, supports it for playing a constructive role in international and regional affairs. It is a priority of China's diplomacy to develop the friendly cooperation with Kazakhstan. China is willing to join hands with Kazakhstan to push forward bilateral relations to a higher level and to yield fruitful results, so as to better serve the development and rejuvenation cause of the two countries and to make greater contributions to peace and prosperity of the region.

Nazarbayev expressed that President Xi Jinping's current visit has carried on the fine tradition of close exchanges between the leaders of the two countries. Kazakhstan and China enjoy high-level trust, mutual support and sincere cooperation. The Kazakhstan-China relationship is an example of good-neighbourly friendship. The Kazakh people regard China's development and prosperity as their own and sincerely wish the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation could be realized successfully. No matter how the situation changes, Kazakhstan will remain forever a good neighbour, a good friend and a good partner of China. Kazakhstan is willing to join hands with China moving ahead.

The two heads of state believe that to firmly support each other on issues concerning the other's core interests and major concerns is the essence of the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides will continue to maintain close communication and coordination on major issues.

The two heads of state stressed that the energy cooperation between China and Kazakhstan is featured by complementary advantages, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The two countries are long-term stable and reliable partners for energy cooperation. Both sides should well implement cross-border oil and gas pipeline construction projects, strengthen cooperation on oil and gas exploration and processing, support China National Petroleum Corporation for taking share in the Kashagan oilfield. Both sides should also create new highlights of cooperation in the fields of civilian nuclear energy, new energy and clean energy.

The two heads of state pointed out that China and Kazakhstan have huge potential for cooperation in a broader area. Both sides should, in accordance with their own development strategies, improve the structure of bilateral trade, promote trade diversity, enhance the scale and quality of cooperation to ensure the realization of the goal of 40 billion U.S. dollars for bilateral trade in 2015. Both sides should speed up promoting cooperation in the non-resource fields such as connectivity, agriculture, high-tech and local exchanges and advance the process of bilateral local currency settlement.

The two heads of state noted that attaching importance to people-to-people and cultural exchanges is of great significance to consolidating good-neighbourly friendship. Both sides will strive to set up Culture Center in each other's country at an early date and to hold Kazakh Culture Day in China this year and Chinese Culture Day in Kazakhstan next year.

They agreed that the "three evil forces" including the "East Turkistan" as well as transnational organized crime are the common threats facing the two countries and the region and must be cracked down on harshly. Both sides should deepen cooperation in the fields of law enforcement, security and defence to safeguard common peace and tranquility.

The two heads of state as well exchanged views on major international and regional issues. They agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of multilateral organizations such as the UN, the SCO and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to jointly cope with global and regional challenges. The Kazakh side supports China for holding CICA's rotating presidency from 2014 to 2016 and supports China for hosting the CICA Summit in 2014.

Following the talks, both signed the China-Kazakhstan Joint Declaration on Further Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and witnessed the signing of the medium-and-long-term development plan for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and other cooperation documents.

The two heads of state as well met the press. Xi Jinping stressed, I and President Nazarbayev have decided to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. It has set the course and priority for the future development of bilateral relations. The Central Asia situation is now undergoing profound and complex changes. The international community should respect the development paths chosen by Central Asian countries and help them develop the economy and improve people's livelihood. China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to make unremitting efforts for building a Central Asian region of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Prior to the talks, Nazarbayev held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi Jinping at the Presidential Palace. The two heads of state mounted to the inspection platform. The military band played the national anthems of the two countries. Xi Jinping, accompanied by Nazarbayev, reviewed the guard of honour.

Xi Jinping also laid a wreath to Fatherland Defenders' Monument of Kazakhstan the same day and planted a firry tree symbolizing the friendship in the forest of heads of state.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the relevant activities.