It's been nearly 20 years since Kazakhstan and China established diplomatic relations. And President Hu's trip aims to lay the foundation for the future development of ties.

China and Kazakhstan, who share a 1,700 kilometer long border, are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. During his visit to Kazakhstan, President Hu Jintao said bilateral cooperation between the two countries is in the interests of both countries, as well as Asia. He also commented on how China has been working closely with Kazakhstan on counter terrorism, especially in the border areas.

Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of Central Asian Department, CASS, said, "The relations between China and Kazakhstan created a friendly environment for the contacts between China and other independent states of the former Soviet Union."

As a result, economic ties between the two neighbors have been on the rise. Trade hit 20 billion US dollars in 2010, up 45 percent from the previous year. And a high-speed railway, which will link the two countries, is now under construction.

Kazakhstan is now China's biggest trading partner in Central Asia.

Back in 1992, a cooperation agreement was signed when the two countries forged the diplomatic bond. Since then, nearly a hundred delegations in the fields of culture, art and sports have made exchanges to foster bilateral relations.

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