ALMATY, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said Wednesday that his country will continue to strengthen political and economic cooperation with China, Russia and other Central Asian countries.

    Nazarbayev presented his annual state of the nation address Wednesday at the joint sitting of both houses of parliament, pointing out that the maintenance of security remains the priority of the country's foreign policies, the national news agency said.

    Kazakhstan will also expand constructive cooperation with the United States, the European Union and NATO in a bid to solidify the security in the Central Asian regions, Nazarbayev said.

    Kazakhstan holds the position that conflicts, including some acute questions, can only be settled through compromise in foreign relations, the president said, adding his country will continue to accelerate the modernization of its military forces and actively involve itself in the international anti-terrorism fight.

    Kazakhstan will assume the rotating presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010,symbolizing the country's international status is climbing to a new high, Nazarbayev said.

    Therefore, Kazakhstan will make a plan, especially for its "Road to Europe," to boost economic cooperation, introduce technology and improve the legal system.