Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (left) meets with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday in Astana. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday in Astana while attending the sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), during which he stressed that both countries should implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to firmly support each other's core interests, share development opportunities and safeguard common strategic security and development interests.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan last month, the two heads of state announced that China and Kazakhstan will work for the goal and vision of building a community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing weal and woe, which establishes the direction for the development of China-Kazakhstan relations under the new circumstance, Wang said.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Kazakh friendship has always been rock-solid, and the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides has maintained a high level of interaction, Wang said.

The upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a very important congress held at a critical moment as China embarks on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all aspects, Wang stressed.

The congress will fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, advance to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization, and deploy the goals and tasks for China in the next five years and beyond, Wang said.

For his part, Tokayev said the 20th CPC National Congress is an epoch-making event that will open up a new chapter of building a modern socialist China in all aspects and march toward the new journey into the second centenary goal.

Developing relations with China has always been an important diplomatic priority for Kazakhstan, Tokayev noted, and the historic visit of President Xi has become a new milestone in the development of relations between the two countries.

The Kazakh side will firmly support the Belt and Road Initiative and work with China to continuously consolidate the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

Wang addressed at the CICA on Thursday, saying that the CICA participants should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, respond properly to challenges, and work to build an Asian community with a shared future.

Upholding mutual respect and trust and implementing the Global Security Initiative, Wang urged the CICA to pursue security that is common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable, so as to safeguard the peace and tranquility in Asia.

Wang also called for joint efforts to stick to mutual benefit, promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, together to promote Asian countries' development and prosperity.

Wang said the CICA should uphold fairness and justice, support each other in following a development path suited to their own national conditions, champion true multilateralism and safeguard the UN-centered international system and the legitimate rights and interests of Asian countries.

China will play the role of a good coordinator and promote exchanges in agriculture, green development, finance and among think tanks, and work with all parties to bring CICA cooperation to a new height, Wang added.