In the midsummer month, all things are in full bloom. In this vibrant and beautiful season, at the invitation of President Tokayev, I will soon conduct a state visit to Kazakhstan and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. This is my fifth visit to this charming land since assuming the presidency of the People's Republic of China. Kazakhstan's splendid and unique culture, vast and magnificent scenery, and simple and hospitable people have left a deep impression on me. I look forward to experiencing the new developments and changes in Kazakhstan firsthand through this visit, discussing cooperation plans with President Tokayev, and working together to create a new blueprint for the development of China Kazakhstan relations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
More than 2000 years ago, Zhang Qian went on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, knocking on the door to friendly exchanges between China and Central Asia. The ancient Silk Road has promoted friendly exchanges and mutual learning between our two great nations. More than 80 years ago, Chinese and Kazakh musicians Xian Xinghai and Baikadamov met and became acquainted in Almaty, forming a brotherly bond that crossed national borders. 32 years ago, China became one of the earliest countries to recognize Kazakhstan's independence, and the relationship between the two countries set sail again. The history of friendly exchanges between China and Kazakhstan fully proves that the development of bilateral relations is in line with the historical trend and conforms to the trend of the times.
Eleven years ago, I first proposed the "Silk Road Economic Belt" initiative in Kazakhstan, which received positive responses from various sectors of Kazakh society. The grand picture of the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" between the two countries has begun, and the development of China Kazakhstan relations has entered a new stage.
We support each other and work together, opening up new heights of political mutual trust. The China Kazakhstan relationship has achieved a leap from a comprehensive strategic partner to a permanent comprehensive strategic partner, and has achieved the vision of building a China Kazakhstan community with a shared future that is friendly for generations, highly trusted, and shares weal and woe. Both sides have always firmly supported each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns, and have always respected each other's independently chosen development path based on their own national conditions. In the face of disasters such as floods and epidemics, we extend our hands and make every effort to help each other, always being a strong backing that we can trust and rely on. This indestructible trust and support are precious and have become the greatest political guarantee for China Kazakhstan cooperation.
We have achieved new achievements in practical cooperation through mutual benefit and collaborative development. Last year, the bilateral trade volume between China and Kazakhstan reached a record breaking 41 billion US dollars. China has become Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and largest export destination country. Major strategic projects such as Zanatas wind power station, Turgusun hydropower station, and modernization of Chimkent refinery have been successfully completed and put into operation. The China Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and natural gas pipeline are operating safely and stably, and the "green channel" for rapid clearance of agricultural products has achieved full coverage. More and more high-quality and green agricultural products from Kazakhstan are entering thousands of households in China. The potential for cooperation in new energy, transportation infrastructure, and other fields between the two countries is constantly being unleashed. The completion and operation of the Xi'an Land Port Terminal, as well as the smooth flow of the "Shuangxi Highway" and the China Europe freight train, have injected strong momentum into the development of both countries.
We have helped and learned from each other, sparking a new wave of cultural exchange. China and Kazakhstan have successfully signed an agreement to establish cultural centers for each other, marking the first collaboration in the film "Musician". Chinese universities have developed humanistic cooperation projects in Kazakhstan, Luban Workshop, Chinese Traditional Medicine Center, and other fields, from scratch to excellence. Mutual visa exemption allows the people of both countries to travel as frequently as relatives. Last year, nearly 600000 people traveled between the two countries, and in the first three months of this year, the number has exceeded 200000, which is expected to reach a new high. Local cooperation is flourishing, with friendly provinces, prefectures, and cities increasing to 26 pairs. Ophthalmologist Kapera Bekov, who is widely respected and loved by Chinese patients, blood donation volunteer Ruslan, who is known as "Panda Man", and Kazakh singer Dimash, who is popular throughout the country, have become ambassadors of China Kazakhstan friendship in the new era.
We have united and collaborated to face challenges, achieving new results in international cooperation. China and Kazakhstan have similar positions in international and regional affairs, both advocating the practice of a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept. They are committed to being builders of world peace, contributors to global development, and maintainers of the international order. We have jointly established the China Central Asia mechanism, closely coordinating and cooperating within the framework of multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. We actively support each other's constructive international cooperation initiatives and resolutely defend the common strategic, security, and development interests of both countries.
Looking ahead to the future, there is great potential for cooperation between China and Kazakhstan, and it will definitely have great potential. I hope to continue traditional friendship, deepen all-round cooperation, make new deployments and plans for the future of China Kazakhstan relations, and continuously push forward the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan through this visit, together with President Tokayev.
One is to consolidate the political tradition of mutual support. "When making friends, keep your word." China will continue to treat Kazakhstan with sincerity and trust, consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, and firmly support each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. China will continue to support Kazakhstan in maintaining national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, support Kazakhstan in pursuing a development path that is in line with its own national conditions, support Kazakhstan in adopting various domestic and foreign policies aimed at national development and prosperity, and oppose any external interference in Kazakhstan's internal affairs. We must inherit and carry forward the four cooperation treasures of mutual respect, good neighborly friendship, solidarity, and mutual benefit, and promote the stability and development of China Kazakhstan relations.
The second is to make good use of the magic weapon of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China and Kazakhstan have different resource endowments, distinctive economic industries, obvious complementary advantages, and enormous potential for cooperation. China is willing to speed up the in-depth connection between the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the "just Kazakhstan" economic policy, further open China's super market to Kazakhstan, and share China's development opportunities. We need to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as economy and trade, production capacity, investment, energy and mineral resources, agriculture, etc., improve port clearance efficiency, promote the high-quality operation of China Europe freight trains and the construction of international transportation corridors across the Caspian Sea, and improve the three-dimensional, diverse, and efficient connectivity pattern. Fully tap into the potential for cooperation in high-tech fields such as new energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, cross-border e-commerce, aerospace, etc., create a high value-added industrial chain and supply chain, and add more new momentum to bilateral cooperation.
The third is to consolidate the public opinion foundation of generational friendship. Deepening China Kazakhstan friendship is the aspiration and public opinion of both countries. We must inherit this friendly friendship, carry out rich and colorful cultural exchange activities, and further promote mutual understanding and kinship between the two peoples. Jointly run the Luban Workshop, Confucius Institute, and Northwestern Polytechnical University Kazakhstan Branch to cultivate more successors in the cause of China Kazakhstan friendship. Welcome universities, think tanks, and research institutions from both countries to carry out joint education and collaborative research, support the promotion of exchanges between various sectors of society in both countries, encourage more provinces, prefectures, and cities in the two countries to establish good relations, continuously deepen cooperation in education, tourism, archaeology, art, media, and other fields, and expand the depth and breadth of cultural exchanges.
The fourth is to respond to the century long changing situation of accelerated evolution. The world situation is turbulent and intertwined, and China Kazakhstan's all-round mutually beneficial cooperation faces both new threats and challenges, as well as new opportunities and new spaces. Chinese people say that danger and opportunity always complement each other, and there is an organic balance between danger and opportunity. China is willing to work together with Kazakhstan to cope with changes in the world, the times, and history, cultivate new opportunities in crises, open up new opportunities in changes, firmly defend the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law, practice true multilateralism, oppose hegemonism, power politics, and camp confrontation, promote equal and orderly world multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, inject more positive energy and stability into maintaining world peace and stability, and make more contributions to China Kazakhstan.
Another important agenda for me in Kazakhstan this time is to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. Since assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Kazakhstan has done a lot of effective work and expanded the influence of the organization, which is highly praised by China. I believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, the Astana Summit will surely achieve a complete success, further consolidate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization family, and open up a new era of organizational cooperation.
As the ancient Chinese saying goes, "Those who share the same desires will win, and those who work together in the same boat will win.". The Kazakh people say, "Five fingers make a fist, and everyone is united.". China is willing to work hand in hand with Kazakhstan on the journey of achieving national prosperity and revitalization, and move forward side by side, drawing a new blueprint for bilateral cooperation and continuing to write a new chapter of China Kazakhstan friendship.