China, Kazakhstan want to double trade
President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday during his visit to Kazakhstan that the two sides have set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date. China and Kazakhstan agreed to continuously deepen cooperation in such traditional areas as economy, trade, investment, production capacity, interconnectivity and energy, Xi said when jointly meeting the press with his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in the capital Astana. The two countries will also jointly foster new growth points for cooperation in critical minerals, new energy, scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, digital economy and other fields, Xi said.  President Xi said China supports Kazakhstan in joining the BRICS group. Xi also said China and Kazakhstan have agreed to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, three key initiatives proposed by Beijing. He added the Chinese side will hold China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025, and that the two countries will expand cooperation in areas such as media, think tanks, as well as film and television. Xi described his talks with Tokayev as "amicable, friendly and fruitful". The president is on a state visit to Kazakhstan where he's attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held on Wednesday and Thursday. (Xinhua)