President Tokayev reveals he speaks Chinese when meeting with Xi Jinping

In an interview with the Xinhua news agency, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev revealed that he regularly reads in Chinese and speaks this language every time he meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

«I always remember our meetings with President Xi Jinping with great fondness. We are used to discussing current issues and perspectives of strategic cooperation between Kazakhstan and China and sharing our opinions on the international agenda in a warm and trust-based environment. When I want to communicate important nuances or discuss interesting themes from day-to-day life, I switch to the Chinese language,» Tokayev highlighted.

He also revealed that he lived in China for eight years, studying Chinese culture, history, language, customs and cuisine.

«My ties with China are quite strong, as I spent several years there as a student and then as a young diplomat,» the president said.

He also pointed out that he regularly reads in Chinese.

«Given that everything is changing so fast in the world these days, including China, I regularly read in Chinese to maintain my knowledge of the language and stay informed about the latest trends associated with the political and socio-economic development of China,» Tokayev said.

President Xi of China is expected to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that will be held from July 2 to July 4 in Astana. The last time Xi visited Kazakhstan was in September 2022.