Kazakhstan and China are set to strengthen their trade ties in the agricultural sector as they plan to increase the volume of annual grain exports from Kazakhstan to China. The announcement came after a meeting between Kazakhstan's Minister of Agriculture, Yerbol Karashukeyev, and Ze Zhu, the vice president of China's COFCO food processing holding company, on July 13.
Minister Karashukeyev emphasized Kazakhstan's potential in producing high-quality organic agricultural and food products. He highlighted the country's impressive performance in 2022, when it achieved a record harvest of 22mn tons of grain and leguminous crops, including 16.4mn tons of wheat.
COFCO, China's largest importer of Kazakh wheat, has played a significant role in facilitating the trade relationship between the two countries. The meeting confirmed that all previous export contracts between COFCO Group and the Food Contract Corporation, including a 75,000-ton wheat supply contract, will be fulfilled.
In addition to wheat, the parties discussed the potential purchase of other crops such as flax, barley, sunflower, and rapeseed. This diversification of agricultural exports could further boost trade between the two nations and expand market opportunities for Kazakh farmers.
To strengthen their collaboration and explore potential areas of cooperation, the Chinese delegation also visited the bread-receiving enterprises in the Akmola Region and the Barayev Research and Production Center for Grain Farming in the village of Shortandy near Astana. These visits provided an opportunity for the Chinese representatives to observe the production processes and gain a deeper understanding of Kazakhstan's agricultural industry.
Increasing grain exports to China will not only benefit Kazakhstan's economy but also enhance China's food security by diversifying its sources of grain imports. Kazakhstan, with its vast agricultural potential and commitment to producing high-quality crops, is well-positioned to meet China's growing demand for agricultural products.
The intentions expressed during the meeting between Minister Karashukeyev and Ze Zhu signal a positive direction for bilateral trade relations between Kazakhstan and China in the agricultural sector.
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