Chen Zhili, special envoy of President Hu Jintao, met in Astana Monday with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov on further strengthening bilateral relations.

Chen, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, said China and Kazakhstan opened a new chapter in relations when the two countries established diplomatic ties in January 1992.

Bilateral relations have enjoyed rapid and comprehensive development in the past two decades, making contributions not only to the development of the two countries but also to peace and stability of the region and the world as a whole, she said.

Last year, Hu and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev jointly announced that China and Kazakhstan would develop a comprehensive strategic partnership, which further broadened the prospects of the development of bilateral relations, Chen said.

China would make concerted efforts with Kazakhstan to continuously enhance political trust, deepen cooperation in an all-around way, further shore up bilateral relations and bring real benefits for the two countries and two peoples, she said.

Masimov said Kazakhstan-China relations have grown swiftly in recent years and exchanges in various fields had reached unprecedented levels.

Kazakhstan and China signed a series of important agreements and reached important consensus on their cooperation in the non-resource field, Masimov said.

Kazakhstan is satisfied with the achievements flowing from the growing ties between the two countries, Masimov said, stressing Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to further strengthen cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, and science and technology, and add fresh inputs to bilateral ties.

On Monday night, the Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan held a reception to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Chen and Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov attended the reception.

Kazakhstan gained independence after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.