On June 23, 2008, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui attended a reception held by the Kazakh embassy in China to mark the 10th anniversary of the Kazakhstan's capital- Astana. Assistant Foreign Minister Li and charge d'affaires ad interim Bakrayev delivered speeches respectively. Li, on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed warm congratulations for the 10th anniversary of the Kazakhstan's capital-Astana. He said after a decade of development, Astana has become a political, economic and cultural center of Kazakhstan. Astana's development process represents remarkable achievements made by Kazakhstan in national construction cause, with which the Chinese side is pleased. As a friendly neighbor and strategic partner of Kazakhstan, China is ready to work with it to comprehensively implement various consensus and agreements reached by both sides and further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas so as to push for sustained in-depth development of China-Kazakhstan partnership.

Bakrayev briefed on yesterday, today, and tomorrow of Astana as the Kazakhstan's capital. He emphasized that to consolidate and deepen China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership is one of the priorities of the country's foreign policy. The Kazak side is ready to comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation with China in all areas and supports Beijing to well host the 2008 Olympic Games, so as to push forward bilateral ties for the benefit of both countries and their peoples.