People walk past a shop with windows broken during clashes in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Jan 10, 2022. (VLADIMIR TRETYAKOV / NUR.KZ VIA AP)
BEIJING – As a permanent comprehensive strategic partner of Kazakhstan, China is willing to firmly support Kazakhstan in maintaining stability and stopping violence at this critical moment concerning Kazakhstan's future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.
Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi.
Wang stressed that, three day ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a verbal message to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, publicly expressing his support.
China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the important political consensuses reached by the two heads of state, and do its best to provide necessary support and assistance to Kazakhstan, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
This fully reflected the high-level development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said, adding that it once again proved the profound friendship between the two countries sharing weal and woe at this critical moment.
China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to implement the important political consensuses reached by the two heads of state, and do its best to provide necessary support and assistance to Kazakhstan, Wang said.
For his part, Tleuberdi sincerely thanked President Xi for sending the important verbal message to President Tokayev when Kazakhstan was in times of danger, and for being among the first to express support for President Tokayev and the Kazakh people.
ALSO READ: Kazakhstan eyes post-riot restoration as situation stabilizes
Today is the national day of mourning in Kazakhstan, on which the phone conversation with the Chinese foreign minister once again showed China's firm support for Kazakhstan and the brotherhood between the two countries, Tleuberdi said.
Tleuberdi briefed Wang on the details and latest developments of the situation in Kazakhstan, saying that Kazakhstan had suffered well-planned terrorist attacks that broke out suddenly and simultaneously at many places across the country, with thousands of law enforcement personnel, military police and medical staff under attack.
Riot police officers patrol in a street as unprecedented protests over a hike in energy prices spun out of control in Almaty on Jan 5, 2022. (ABDUAZIZ MADYAROV / AFP)
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China would like to pay tribute to the front-line law enforcement personnel who died in the fight against violence and terrorism in Kazakhstan, and express condolences and sympathy to the innocent dead and injured
The Kazakh authorities have taken timely and decisive measures and the situation has been under effective control, while peace and calm are being restored, Tleuberdi said.
He promised that Kazakhstan will fully guarantee the security of foreign institutions and personnel as well as foreign investment, and continue to fulfill its international obligations and agreements.
On the occasion of the national day of mourning in Kazakhstan, Wang said that China would like to pay tribute to the front-line law enforcement personnel who died in the fight against violence and terrorism in Kazakhstan, and express condolences and sympathy to the innocent dead and injured.
READ MORE: Kazakhstan protests: Russia-led bloc to send peacekeeping forces
At this moment, the Chinese government and people stand firmly together with the Kazakh government and people, Wang stressed.
"After the storm comes the rainbow," Wang said, adding that he believes that under the strong leadership of President Tokayev, Kazakhstan will be able to fully restore peace and stability, overcome this "darkest moment" and make Kazakhstan more resilient and stronger.