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A delegation of the China-Central Asia Friendship Association (CCAFA) headed by its president Zhang Deguang paid a goodwill visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from April 8 to 13 at the invitation of the Council of Friendship Societies and Cultural-Enlightening Relations with Foreign Countries (CFSCERFC) of Uzbekistan and the Peoples Assembly of Kazakhstan. It was the first CCAFA delegation to visit the two Central Asian countries since its founding at the end of last year.

The friendship organizations and relevant government departments of the two countries attached great importance to the visit.Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Kasimov, Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov and Vice Foreign Minister Anvar Salikhbaev of Uzbekistan had friendly meetings with the delegation and hosted grand receptions to welcome the delegation. S. Gulyamov, chairman of the CFSCERFC, and activists of China-Uzbekistan friendship greeted the delegation with bouquets of fresh flowers at the airport. The two friendship organizations held a cordial and friendly meeting on the day of the delegations arrival and a working meeting on how to carry out friendly cooperation. The CFSCERFC gave the delegation a sumptuous reception and arranged students and teachers of the Institute of Oriental Studies and well-known singers to perform light and cheerful folk songs and dances for the delegation. The delegation also had an interaction with about 100 teachers and students of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. CCAFA President Zhang Deguang made a speech on China-Uzbekistan relations and answered questions the participants raised. The meeting was filled with a warm and friendly atmosphere.

In Kazakhstan, Kasymzhomart Tokaev, chairman of the Senate, E. Tugrannov, vice chairman of the Peoples Assembly, Bulat Sultanov, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Serik Seidumanov, vice mayor of Alma-Ata, met with the delegation on separate occasions.

At the above meetings, Zhang Deguang talked about the aims and tasks of the CPAFFC and CCAFA, Chinas social and economic development and the preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games. He spoke highly of and expressed gratitude to the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for their firm support for China on the questions of Taiwan, Tibet and the Beijing Olympics. The delegation held talks with personages concerned on academic exchanges and regional cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister Kasimov and Vice Foreign Minister Salikhbaev said that the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan would give full support to the exchanges between the CFSCERFC and the CCAFA. They believed that as a nongovernmental organization, the CCAFA would give great impetus to cooperation in various fields between the two countries, increase personnel contacts and serve as a bridge for the enterprises of the two countries to cooperate and establish joint ventures. CFSCERFC Chairman Gulyamov hoped that the two friendship organizations would deepen practical cooperation, promote cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges, and build a good platform for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises.

Kazakh Senate Chairman Tokaev said that nongovernmental diplomacy is an important and glorious work and that the fact that senior diplomat Zhang Deguang serves as president of the CCAFA will carry out well the people-to-people friendship work between China and Central Asian countries.

E. Tugrannov, vice chairman of the Peoples Assembly of Kazakhstan, said, Kazakhstan is a country of many ethnic groups. The aims of the Peoples Assembly are to maintain harmony among ethnic groups, ensure the stability of the country and promote economic development. The Vice Chairman said that there was very much to learn from China. He wished to have more exchanges with the CCAFA on issues of common interest in the future.

Senate Chairman Tokaev spoke highly of the continuous and fast development of relations between China and Kazakhstan, which has ushered bilateral relations to a new stage.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Norov expressed the willingness to help promote the establishment of friendship ties between Chinas Henan Province and Uzbek Samarkand State. He said that Chinas construction materials, small machinery, household electrical appliances enjoy good reputation in Uzbekistan. He welcomed Chinese enterprises to make investment or set up joint ventures in his country. Hamidullo Karamatov, rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, hoped to twin friendship ties with a Chinese university.The Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan expressed the wish to establish links and carry out academic exchanges with the China Foundation of International Studies and Academic Exchanges.

The delegation also exchanged views with relevant leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on bilateral economic and trade cooperation, international and regional situation, the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, water resources in Central Asia, reforms in social fields, etc.