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BEIJING, June 5-- A senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday that President Xi Jinping's visit to Kazakhstan this week will help to advance bilateral ties and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). From June 7 to 10, Xi will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan, attend the 17th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State and the opening ceremony of the World Expo in Astana. Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said at a press conference that the visit is Xi's first visit abroad since the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation held in mid-May and one of China's major diplomatic activities for Kazakhstan and Eurasia this year. "The visit will help further improve the relationship between China and Kazakhstan as well as Eurasian countries and forge ahead the healthy and stable development of the SCO," Li said. As China's neighbor and a comprehensive strategic partner, Kazakhstan is an important partner on the Belt and Road Initiative and international production capacity cooperation, he said. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kazakhstan. Describing bilateral ties as "at the best in history," Li said this is Xi's third visit to the central Asian country and the 16th meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. He said the two presidents will exchange views on bilateral ties, alignment of development strategies and cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. | 
