A delegation from Shandong led by Lin Wu, the Party secretary of the province, visited Kazakhstan from Sept 2 to 4.

It aimed to explore development opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen cooperation and exchanges with local companies and governments, and write a new chapter in cooperation between Shandong and Kazakhstan.

A delegation from Shandong visits Kazakhstan from Sept 2 to 4 to carry out a range of foreign affairs activities. [Photo/Dazhong News]

The delegation contacted state-level dignitaries and people from all walks of life, carried out numerous foreign affairs activities, and conducted economic, trade and cultural exchanges. This resulted in a raft of important cooperation deals taking shape despite the compact schedule.

The Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area and relevant Shandong enterprises signed memorandums of cooperation in related fields with their Kazakh counterparts.

Kazakhstan is an important member of the SCO and one of the first countries to support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Lin said local exchanges and cooperation between Shandong and Kazakhstan have a sound foundation and great potential. Shandong is promoting green, low-carbon and high-quality development, opening the window for deeper cooperation between the two sides.

Lin expressed hope the two sides would increase their exchanges between governments and enterprises; deepen cooperation in food, agriculture, international trade, equipment manufacturing, cultural tourism and other fields; promote the implementation of more industrial cooperation projects; and strengthen people-to-people exchanges and bonds.

An event marking further cooperation and exchanges between Shandong and Kazakhstan is held in Astana, the Kazakh capital, on Sept 4. The event was also held to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Through continued joint efforts, the two sides will surely see their friendly and cooperative ties reach new heights, said Lin.

Shandong is a key province in eastern China and one of the main engines of China's economic development, said Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.

The country attaches great importance to boosting friendly and cooperative relations with Shandong and will deepen exchanges and cooperation with the province and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, transportation, logistics, trade, tourism and other fields, said Smailov.

He said Kazakhstan welcomes more Shandong enterprises to invest and start doing business in the country, while also contributing to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and bringing more benefits to the two peoples.

The China-Europe (Qilu) freight train's first overseas assembly center is launched in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Sept 3. [Photo/Dazhong News]