Chinese president meets speaker of Kazakh parliament

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday China and Kazakhstan should play a leading role in jointly building the newly-proposed Silk Road economic belt.

"The building of a Silk Road economic belt is in the fundamental interests of China and Kazakhstan," Xi said during his meeting in Beijing with Nurlan Nigmatulin, speaker of the Kazakh Parliament's Lower House.

Xi made a state visit last month to Kazakhstan, where he proposed that China and Central Asian nations work together to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost cooperation. The proposal was welcomed by Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations.

During Tuesday's meeting, Xi said he was happy that agreements between China and Kazakhstan were being implemented and he believes that the two countries can build a more mature and stable comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Silk Road is a precious historical heritage shared by China, Kazakhstan and all the other countries along the route, said the president.

He added that China and Kazakhstan should take opportunities and strengthen communication, trade, road connections, currency circulation between the two countries, as well as mutual understanding of the two peoples, which would help spur other nations to join in the construction of the economic belt.

Xi said legislation cooperation is an important part of the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership and plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the bilateral relationship. He urged legislatures from both sides to increase exchanges and support each other.

Nigmatulin said Kazakhstan gives priority to its ties with China, and the Kazakh side is willing to continue working with China to enhance the friendly relationship politically, economically and culturally.

With a history of over 2,000 years, the Silk Road was a famous land trade corridor linking the Asian and European continents.