On Sep. 6, 2013, President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana, starting a state visit to Kazakhstan.

Around 22: 30 local time, Xi Jinping's special plane arrived at Astana International Airport. Xi Jinping went down the ladder. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev led Prime Minister of the Government Serik Akhmetov, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office Karim Massimov, Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrissov and others to warmly greet him.

Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Chinese government and the people, extended cordial greetings and good wishes to the Kazakh government and the people. Xi Jinping expressed that China and Kazakhstan are important neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners for each other. China-Kazakhstan relationship has brought tangible benefits to both peoples and has become an example for the international community to promote good-neighbourly friendship, equality, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. I am looking forward to meeting and holding talks with President Nazarbayev and other Kazakh leaders to exchange in-depth views on developing and deepening China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership, expanding bilateral cooperation as well as major international and regional issues of mutual interest. It is believed that the visit will inject fresh strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and other accompanying officials arrived by the same plane.

H.E. Le Yucheng, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, as well greeted at the airport.

Upon the departure from the airport, Xi Jinping, accompanied by Nazarbayev, came to Beijing Tower where he stayed. The two heads of state held cordial and friendly chat.

Xi Jinping arrived in Astana by special plane from St. Petersburg after concluding the state visit to Turkmenistan and attending the Eighth G20 Leaders' Summit. Upon the departure from St. Petersburg, he was seen off at the airport by the officials from the Government of the Russian Federation.

Xi Jinping will as well pay state visits to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and attend the thirteenth Meeting of the Council of Heads of the Member States of the SCO.