World will focus on two sessions, Kazakhstan ambassador says

The coming two sessions will draw world attention as China's growth remains strong despite the many global uncertainties, said Shakhrat Nuryshev, Kazakhstan's ambassador to Beijing.

The annual two sessions of the NPC, the top legislative body, and the CPPCC, the top advisory body, will be held in March, and their discussions will attract the attention of all foreign diplomats, Nuryshev said.

He told China Daily that China's economy, with sluggish global conditions and the "new normal" reducing the volume of foreign trade as well as overproduction in some sectors, is actively seeking new growth drivers.

Nuryshev said China, despite the status of a developing country, is one of the largest economies in the world and a key player in the international arena. In recent years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping China had demonstrated an active foreign policy and boldly seeks out new foreign markets. The role and place of China, as a responsible world power, is growing day by day, he said.

"Therefore, I can firmly state that the issues at the upcoming "two sessions" will not be a minor issues for us. All questions will be important in terms of the need for an in-depth study of China's future plans and strategies for further development," he said.

"How successful China will be in overcoming the existing difficulties and to ensure economic growth within the 6.5-7 percent range has attracted the attention of the entire world community," he said. "This is primarily due to the fact that China provides for about a quarter of global economic growth and has a direct impact on the economic situation of countries that are its trade and economic partners."

The ambassador said Kazakhstan is the closest neighbor, a reliable friend and strategic partner of China and occupies one of the most important places in the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The Silk Road Economic Belt proposal was announced by President Xi Jinping during a visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013. It has a deep symbolic and practical meaning, as the main transport corridors from China to Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf have already been built, put into operation and tested in the territory of Kazakhstan, according to the ambassador.

"That is why the two heads of state agreed on the conjugation of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Program of Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan (Nurly Zhol)," he said.