Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev takes questions of Chinese netizens during the exclusive interview with Xinhuanet in Shanghai, May 20, 2014. (Xinhuanet photo)

BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Exchanges among university students from China and Kazakhstan are the core of arts and humanities communication for the two nations, said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during an online interview with Xinhuanet held Tuesday in Shanghai.

With similar background, China and Kazakhstan have the close tradition and historic cultures. However, the development of travel industry has not reached a perfect level.

"Kazakhstan will hold expo in 2017. President Xi and I will make the year a Tourist Year for both China and Kazakhstan for strengthening the communication of arts and humanities,” said Nazarbayev, who is on a state visit to China from May 19 to 22.

During his stay in Shanghai, he will attend the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

The fourth CICA summit is scheduled to be held in Shanghai on Tuesday and Wednesday, drawing 11 heads of state, one government head and 10 chiefs of international organizations.

The summit was established in 1992 as a forum for dialogue and consultations. It now has 24 member countries and 13 observers.