China and Kazakhstan introduce strategic dialogue of foreign ministers

China and Kazakhstan on Friday jointly announced the establishment of a mechanism for strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the first dialogue with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu in Beijing.

The two sides agreed to make full use of the mechanism to "enhance the level of strategic cooperation between the two countries and continuously inject new momentum into the development of China-Kazakhstan relations", the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two countries agreed to jointly promote the high-quality building of the Belt and Road, strengthen the synergy between their respective development strategies, and further deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, infrastructure construction, agriculture and e-commerce.

"The two sides agreed to deepen anti-interference and anti-infiltration cooperation, comprehensively upgrade their level of law enforcement and security cooperation", and further reinforce concerted actions in combating the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, the statement said.

Also, the two sides agreed to continue to improve and enhance the China-Central Asia mechanism and support each other in assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

At the dialogue, Wang said the two countries are good neighbors with mutual support, good friends with mutual trust and good partners with mutual achievements.

Kazakhstan "is a major developing country with significant influence and a representative of emerging economies", and China has always regarded Kazakhstan as an important partner in its neighborhood diplomacy, especially in Central Asia, he said.

China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to fully implement the consensus of the two heads of state and constantly deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, to safeguard the common strategic, security and development interests of the two sides, he added.

China "will, as always, support the Kazakh side in defending its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", support the Kazakh side in taking the road of development that meets its national conditions, and oppose any external forces interfering in the domestic affairs of the country, Wang said.

On his part, Nurtleu said the two countries are good neighbors and partners, and China is a priority direction for Kazakhstan's diplomacy.

Kazakhstan firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests on matters such as those involving Taiwan and Xinjiang, he said.

The country is willing to further strengthen political mutual trust with China, comprehensively deepen exchanges at all levels and in various fields, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and enhance exchanges between the two peoples, he said.

The Kazakh side highly values the important role China plays in regional and international affairs, he added.

Also, during Friday's dialogue, the two sides agreed to work closely within the framework of multilateral organizations such as the United Nations.

The two sides agreed to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, promote genuine multilateralism, make progress toward a more just and reasonable global governance system, and safeguard the common interests of the vast number of developing countries.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern.