Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (L) shakes hands with visiting Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Xu Qiliang in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sept. 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Xiaowei)

ASTANA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with visiting Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Xu Qiliang here on Tuesday, pledging to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields.

Kazakhstan and China are friendly neighbors and important cooperation partners, Tokayev said, adding that Kazakhstan greatly values its long friendship with China and supports the Belt and Road Initiative.

Kazakhstan firmly supports China on international issues and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in such fields as politics, economy, culture and security, the Senate chairman said.

The two countries would jointly fight against the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and improve the livelihood of both peoples, Tokayev said.

Xu, also member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said China and Kazakhstan have established a stable comprehensive strategic partnership thanks to the efforts of the two countries' heads of state, and are enjoying a further development of bilateral ties.

Noting the alignment of China's Silk Road Economic Belt and Kazakhstan's Nurly Zhol (Bright Path) economic program, as well as the "Chinese dream" and the "Kazakhstan dream," Xu said this would bring more welfare to the peoples of the two countries.

Together with Kazakhstan, China is ready to fulfill the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, deepen the pragmatic cooperation and exchanges between the two militaries as well as strategic mutual trust, and secure regional peace and stability with joint efforts, Xu said.

During his visit to the Central Asian country, Xu also met with Defense Minister of Kazakhstan Nurlan Ermekbaev.