President Jiang Zemin Meets Kazakhstan Foreign Minister

President Jiang Meets Kazakhstan Foreign Minister

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Thursday that China believes the upcoming summit meeting of leaders of the Shanghai Five in Shanghai this year will be an important occasion to promote regional peace and security.

Jiang made the remarks during a meeting with Erlan Idrisov, minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan, who arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to China.

China believes that the 6th summit meeting in Shanghai in June this year will further increase mutual understanding and friendship, and will be an important occasion to promote regional peace and security, Jiang said.

The Chinese president said China thinks the cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the crackdown on national separatism, international terrorism and religious extremism have been very "effective."

He said China is satisfied with the cooperation as well as bilateral cooperation in other areas. He stressed the two countries should make joint efforts to push forward bilateral relations to new highs in the new century.

Idrisov handed over to Jiang a letter written by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, and extended the

Kazakhstan president's regards to Jiang.

The minister said Kazakhstan places China at a priority position in its foreign policy. Over the past 10 years since Kazakhstan realized its independence, he said, his country and China have witnessed satisfactory cooperation in various areas.

The Kazakhstan people wishes to be permanent good friend of the Chinese people, and wishes the relations between Kazakhstan and China would be further strengthened in the new century.

Idrisov stressed that Kazakhstan and China share common needs and interests in the fight against national separatism, international terrorism and religious extremism. Kazakhstan will never allow such elements to do harmful things to Kazakhstan-China relations on its territory, he said.

In addition, the foreign minister expressed the hope that China will achieve its national reunification as early as possible.

Kazakhstan wishes to have closer cooperation with China under the Shanghai Five mechanism and in other international organizations for the formation of a multi-polarized world.

Idrisov also briefed Jiang on Kazakhstan's proposal to hold a meeting on mutual coordination and trust in Asia.