Heartfelt welcome reflects robust ties

Xi hails 'enduring friendship' between China, Kazakhstan on arrival in Astana

"Dear Grandpa Xi Jinping, welcome to Astana, Kazakhstan," Daria, a 10-year-old Kazakh girl, told the Chinese president in Mandarin shortly after his arrival on Tuesday. "We are honored to meet you, and we like you!"

The interaction at the Astana airport came after a dozen Kazakh children sang the popular Chinese song Ode to the Motherland in front of President Xi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who welcomed him at the airport.

Xi, smiling, praised the children for their Chinese and asked where they learned it.