BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev said Thursday Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

    Addressing Chinese social and political guests at the Kazakhstan Embassy in Beijing, Tokayev said the SCO was one of the regional organizations with the greatest potential of development and the greatest vitality.

    This year marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the SCO, and a summit is scheduled for June in Shanghai, where the SCO was established.

    Tokayev regarded the summit as an "important phase for the progress of the SCO", saying it would draw attention from the whole international community.

    Tokayev said China and Kazakhstan had good relations.

    He said the two countries shared interests in many fields, such as energy and culture, and had actively cooperated in international affairs.

    Tokayev arrived Tuesday for a three-day visit to China. This is the Kazakh Foreign Minister's first visit to China since the country's present government was set up in 2003. Enditem