The two leaders met in Kazakhstan鈥檚 capital Astana on Monday (16 June) and discussed ways to boost ties in trade, investment and tech, according to Beijing鈥檚 state-run Xinhua news agency.

Underlining the importance of safeguarding the common interests, Xi said the two countries should promote railway and port construction projects.

Kazakhstan is due to open its third Kazakhstan-China rail crossing by 2027.

The new 鈥淏akhty 鈥� Ayagoz鈥� railway will run a total distance of 272 kilometres and Kazakhstan鈥檚 authorities have reportedly dedicated US$1.2 billion to fund the project.

The project is also expected to involve the construction of a dry port covering an area of nearly 1,000 hectares. The dry port allows for the transfer of containers from wagons running on China鈥檚 narrower standard railway gauge to the wider Russian railway gauge for onward travel into countries that formed part of the former Soviet bloc.