On April 28, 2019, President Xi Jinping held an awarding ceremony of the Friendship Medal for the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Central Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Party and the Honour Commendation Committee of the State Wang Huning attended the awarding ceremony.

The atmosphere in the Central Hall of the Great Hall of the People was solemn, grand and warm. National flags of China and Kazakhstan were arranged orderly. The words "Awarding Ceremony of the 'Friendship Medal' of the People's Republic of China" were written on a large red backdrop in both Chinese and Kazakh. A picture of the golden Friendship Medal on the backdrop glittered.

The awarding ceremony started and the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army stepped onto the awarding stage and stood on both sides.

Xi Jinping and Nursultan Nazarbayev walked into the Central Hall side by side along with the majestic ceremonial music. All the audience stood up and welcomed the two presidents with eye salute, and the hall burst into warm applause.

Xi Jinping and Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped onto the awarding stage.

The military band played the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

After the national anthem, Xi Jinping delivered his speech. Xi Jinping said that today we hold a grand ceremony to award the Friendship Medal, the highest state honor of the People's Republic of China presented to foreign friends, to the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, an old friend and a good friend of the Chinese people. The first President Nursultan Nazarbayev is a politician with international prestige, and also the founder and advocate of China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership. Under the joint guidance and promotion of Chinese leaders and him, China-Kazakhstan relations have always been running at a high level with fruitful results. With his visionary insight, the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev has also pushed forward the robust development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and made important contributions to safeguarding regional and international peace and stability.

Xi Jinping pointed out that I first made the proposal in Kazakhstan in 2013 to jointly build a Silk Road Economic Belt, which immediately received a warm response from the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev and all sectors of society in Kazakhstan. The two countries, within the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, have also led the way in conducting cooperation in production capacity, deepening the alignment of development strategies, and carried out a series of major cooperative projects. Cooperation between China and Kazakhstan has set an example for leveraging complementary strengths and pursuing mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. It has also injected positive impetus into the development of a new type of international relations and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is hoped that China and Kazakhstan will move together toward the dream of achieving national rejuvenation and prosperity, and continue to create a splendid and bright future for bilateral relations.

Afterwards, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Director of the Party and the Honour Commendation Committee of the State Yang Jiechi read out the President Order of Award. The hall burst into warm applause once again.

All the attendees stood up in solemn silence. The Friendship Medal was escorted by national flag guards.

Xi Jinping, in a solemn manner, wore the medal for Nursultan Nazarbayev in ceremonial horn. They warmly shook hands and hugged each other. The hall burst into prolonged applause.

The military band played the national anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Nursultan Nazarbayev made a speech in reply. In his speech, Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed that I was very grateful to President Xi Jinping for awarding the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China to me, which is an unparalleled honor to me. The medal reflects the Chinese side's high recognition of my commitment to advancing Kazakhstan-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The friendship between Kazakhstan and China, built on the basis of mutual respect and trust, has become a model for relations between countries. There are no outstanding issues between the two countries. The deep friendship and mutual trust between me and the Chinese leaders will remain in my heart forever. I warmly congratulated China on the successful hosting of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has become a successful platform for international cooperation, which has not only propelled the common development of the Eurasian continent, but also promoted world peace and prosperity. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, I sincerely hope that the Chinese people will successfully realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the leadership of the CPC with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. China's development and prosperity are of great significance to the world.

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ding Xuexiang; Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wang Chen; State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Xiao Jie; and Vice Chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Zhang Qingli, Bagatur, and He Lifeng also attended the awarding ceremony. More than 400 people, including members of the Party and the Honour Commendation Committee of the State, friendly personage from all walks of life in China and Kazakhstan, and youth representatives from both countries attended the awarding ceremony.