Chinese President Hu Jintao met Monday with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana.

The Chinese leader's visit to Kazakhstan began Sunday and is aimed at boosting ties with the central Asian country and a regional cooperation group.

Before his trip, the President Hu issued a statement praising the relations between China and Kazakhstan since 2005 when the two countries agreed on a strategic partnership. He said during this visit he would discuss the future of bilateral relations with the Kazakh president and Prime Minister Karim Masimov.

China and Kazakhstan are expected to sign several cooperation agreements during Mr. Hu's visit.

Mr. Hu will attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana Wednesday. The regional grouping that also includes Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan marks its 10th anniversary.

Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan hold observer status.

Regional leaders are expected to set goals for the group's development in the next decade.

Chinese official media say after Kazakhstan, President Hu will travel to Russia and Ukraine. While in Russia, he will meet with President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow and attend the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.