In a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his support for Kazakhstan's bid to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism, marking a significant expansion of the China and Russia-led association. The meeting took place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

During the meeting, President Xi spoke highly of the previous visit made by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in May. He emphasized the importance of planning for the future development of China-Russia relations and highlighted the steady progress in cooperation across various areas. President Xi stressed the need to nurture the unique value of the China-Russia partnership and explore the dynamics of cooperation amidst a chaotic international environment.

President Putin, in turn, praised the current "golden age" of bilateral ties between Russia and China and emphasized that the relationship is built on principles of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for each other's sovereignty.

The meeting between Xi and Tokayev also focused on strengthening the economic and technological cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. President Xi vowed to deepen these ties, covering areas such as traditional energy, agriculture, minerals, electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce, and satellite communications. President Tokayev expressed that China-Kazakhstan cooperation is currently in a "golden era" and is considered a strategic priority for Kazakhstan.

China's growing presence in Central Asia, which has historically been under Russia's influence, has been a point of interest. Last year, China surpassed Russia to become Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching over US$41 billion.

The meeting also witnessed the opening of the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express, which is part of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This route allows goods to be transported from China to Europe, bypassing Russia, through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and the Black Sea. President Xi had previously expressed his support for this route in 2022 under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Overall, the meeting between President Xi and President Tokayev reaffirmed the strong ties between China and Kazakhstan, and their commitment to deepening economic cooperation, promoting multilateralism, and safeguarding the interests of developing countries. Kazakhstan's interest in balancing its dependence on Russia with closer relations with China reflects the evolving dynamics in the region.

The support extended by President Xi for Kazakhstan's inclusion in the BRICS cooperation mechanism further solidifies China's growing influence in the region and its ambition to play a larger role in global governance.

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