12:51, 16 April 2009 | GMT +5
Nazarbayev receives highest award of National Olympic Committee of China
BEIJING. April 16. KAZINFORM /Talgat Baimukhambetov/ Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been presented the highest award of the Chinese Olympic Committee; Kazinform reports.

President of the National Olympic Committee of China Liu Peng handed over the Badge of Honor. The Chinese representative noted that the Kazakh Head of the State made a great contribution to the development of friendship and cooperation between our states. He noted that during preparation and holding the Olympiad N.Nazarbayev, the Government and Kazakhstan supported China, Almaty became the first stop of the torchlight procession and the Kazakh President ? the first torch banner.
?We were impressed by your support during the Beijing Olympiad and warm feelings to the Chinese people. You are the first leader of the foreign state, who was awarded with the Badge of Honor of the National Olympic Committee of China?, Liu Peng said.
He expressed his opinion that upcoming Winter Asian Games 2011 in Almaty will be a powerful impulse for further development of the Kazakh sport.
N.Nazarbayev, in his turn, emphasized that Beijing Olympic Games was a great event for the whole world and showed high rating of the PRC in the world community. Achievements of the Chinese athletes impress and convey a great deal. A high level of organization of the events and presence of many heads of states and governments show Chin?s role in the modern world.
Finally, the Head of the State noted that the Kazakh-Chinese relations have a special character. ?We will do our utmost to strengthen friendship and cooperation. It is a main goal of my visit?, he added.