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China is a reliable friend and partner, President Xi Jinping tells Central Asian leaders on Olympics visit
- Pledges from Chinese president come during string of meetings with heads of state visiting Beijing for the Winter Games
- Talks follow Xi’s landmark meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin where both reiterated commitment to a joint stand on global issues
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China is a reliable partner for Central Asian nations and seeks to deepen cooperation in areas ranging from energy to security, Beijing has stressed, in its latest push to step up engagement with the region.
This came as Chinese President Xi Jinping met the leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Xi’s meetings on Saturday, which also included exchanges with the Serbian and Egyptian leaders, followed groundbreaking talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony a day earlier, amid simmering tensions with the United States.
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Xi meets with Putin ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Xi meets with Putin ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony
China is a permanent reliable partner for Kazakhstan, Xi told his counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev when they met on Saturday. He said China firmly supported Kazakhstan in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and believed the nation was capable of maintaining its national security and social stability.
“China will always be a reliable and firm partner for Kazakhstan … and is willing to deepen mutual political trust and expand all-round cooperation,” Xi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV.
Tokayev arrived in Beijing on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, with the capital and the neighbouring city of Zhangjiakou hosting the February 4-20 event.
His visit comes just weeks after authorities in the oil-rich former Soviet state – aided by Russian-led troops – put down its worst civil unrest in decades.
Xi said relations between China and Kazakhstan were of significance to regional and world peace and stability, adding that Beijing was willing to deepen mutual security cooperation.
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