China Kazakhstan Photo:VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his re-election as President of Kazakhstan, saying that he is ready to work with Tokayev to promote the development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been re-elected as the leader of the Central Asian country, winning 81.31 percent of the vote on Monday.

In his message, Xi pointed out that the result fully demonstrated the trust and support the Kazakh people extended to Tokayev.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, and is ready to work with Tokayev, taking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations as a new starting point, to promote the development of China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, and jointly build a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, so as to benefit the two countries and their people.

During Monday's routine news conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also congratulated Tokayev on his re-election. 

"China and Kazakhstan are friendly neighbors and permanent comprehensive strategic partners," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. "China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to elevate China-Kazakhstan relations to a new height and deliver even more benefits to the two countries and two peoples."

After Tokayev's re-election, experts expect the positive diplomatic tone between China and Kazakhstan to continue.

"The cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has been a win-win," Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies in Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Monday. "For example, China's Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's Bright Road Initiative are closely dovetailed. At the current stage, China's cooperation and participation can help Kazakhstan realize greater value and implement its strategy."

Kazakhstan has always pursued a balanced diplomacy of great powers and has a demand for cooperation with China, which will not change in the near future, Zhu said. With that in mind, China-Kazakhstan relations are unlikely to see major fluctuations.

In September, President Xi paid a state visit to Kazakhstan, during which Xi stressed that China-Kazakhstan cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, huge potential and broad prospects.

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.