Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for the further boosting of exchanges and cooperation between western Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and Asian and European nations on Wednesday.

The opportunities offered by the first China-Eurasia Expo can be seized to promote trade and investment to a higher level between western Chinese regions, particularly the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Asian and European nations, Li said when meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in the capital city of Xinjiang.

Li applauded the all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan, pledging that China always values its relations with Pakistan from a strategic and long-term perspective.

China will work with Pakistan to heighten their mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, energy and resources, infrastructure and finance, Li said.

Zardari said Pakistan will continue to consolidate its cooperation with China on political, economic as well as regional and international issues to push forward the Pakistan-China friendship.

In his meeting with Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Aset Isekeshev, Li recalled the successful mutual visits made by the two heads of state this year, noting that the China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership is at a new starting point.

China will remain committed to working with Kazakhstan to increase mutual political trust, strengthen international coordination and foster bilateral cooperation on energy, resources, high technology, infrastructure construction and humanitarian exchanges, Li said.

Isekeshev said Kazakhstan and China are good neighbors with a mutual trust and that Kazakhstan is willing to further its cooperation with China in various trade and technological fields to bring bilateral relations to a new level.

Zardari and Isekeshev are both in Urumqi to attend the first China-Eurasia Expo, which will be held from September 1-5.

The expo is expected to attract over 10,000 foreign participants. It is an upgrade and update of the China Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair, which had been held annually since 1992.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2011)