Top Chinese political advisor starts visit to Kazakhstan

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in Astana on Tuesday for an official good-will visit to Kazakhstan.

Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, delivered a written speech at the airport of the Kazakh capital.

Jia hailed the traditional friendship between the two peoples and the sound bilateral ties.

There has been increased cooperation in such sectors as economy, trade, energy, non-resources, security and cultural fields since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Jia said.

Both sides have offered mutual support for each other's major concerns and carried out close cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

"Such cooperation has safeguarded the common interests of the two states and peoples, and helped promote peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large," Jia said.

Jia is expected to meet with Kazakh leaders during his three-day visit to the Central Asian country.

Source: Xinhua