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

"Whatever profession you are engaged in, you should keep improving yourself and become an expert in that profession," said Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during an online interview with Xinhuanet held Tuesday in Shanghai.

Nazarbayev said, I was born into a common farmer's family, and my parents had not received very formal education. In difficult times after the war, my parents help us to be well educated in school. After leaving school with distinction, I went to work in a metallurgical plant. I used to dream of being an excellent metallurgical worker and never thought I would be the president.

"The experience went a long way in helping me. I often said to young people, whatever profession you are engaged in, you should keep improving yourself and became an expert in that profession," 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.