Xi vows to back Kazakh 'sovereignty' in Central Asia power play

Chinese leader's first post-COVID trip abroad seen as move to cement top-dog status

20220914 xi jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcomed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev upon his arrival in Nur-Sultan on Sept. 14. © Press service of the President of Kazakhstan via Reuters

PAUL BARTLETT, Contributing writer

ALMATY -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan for a state visit on Wednesday, his first known trip abroad since COVID-19 exploded in January 2020.

Xi landed in Nur-Sultan, the Kazakh capital, in the afternoon, China's state media reported. A statement on Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's website offered few details but said the two sides discussed a range of cooperative projects.

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