Trade between Kazakhstan and China surged to $33bn in the first nine months of this year, as noted during a recent meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, where they discussed key issues aimed at further developing their trade and economic cooperation.
The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in various sectors, including investment, transport and logistics, agriculture, energy, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the current momentum in Kazakhstan-China relations, which have benefited from high-level commitments from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Xi Jinping.
“President Tokayev prioritizes the development of cooperation with China, our largest trading partner. The state visit of President Xi to Kazakhstan marked a new chapter in our 'golden 30th anniversary' of relations,” Bektenov stated.
He reiterated Kazakhstan's readiness to expand trade and foster mutually beneficial ties with China.
Kazakhstan aims to boost trade across 180 product categories, potentially generating an additional $1.6bn in value. This includes a focus on products from sectors such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, food, machinery, and construction. The agricultural sector, in particular, has seen a 5.8% increase in trade in 2024, with strong demand for Kazakhstan’s organic and environmentally friendly agricultural goods from Chinese consumers.
The leaders discussed opportunities for expanding exports of wheat, barley, and other agricultural products, along with efforts to expedite the accreditation of Kazakh enterprises for these markets.
The leaders also addressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in transport and logistics. Currently, over 80% of land transportation from China to Europe transits through Kazakhstan. The country is eager to enhance its role in the One Belt, One Road initiative, which is vital for optimizing the Middle Corridor and supporting trade routes linking North-South and East-West.
With transportation volumes along the Middle Corridor increasing by 23% this year to reach 3.4mn tons, Kazakhstan has set an ambitious target to escalate this figure to 10mn tons annually by 2030. Additionally, the establishment of a Kazakhstan logistics center in Xi'an has led to a dramatic increase in container transit along the China-Europe-China route, reaching 24,000 TEU.
The talks also covered the need for streamlined customs processes, especially in light of a 60% increase in road freight volumes. New checkpoints are set to open in the Almaty and East Kazakhstan regions to facilitate trade flow and enhance efficiency.
Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed China's commitment to deepening the strategic partnership with Kazakhstan. “China and Kazakhstan have been close neighbors for over 30 years, building cooperation based on friendship, respect, and equality. Under the guidance of our leaders, our relations have reached a high level of stable and comprehensive partnership,” he noted.
The meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements aimed at bolstering trade, investment, and economic collaboration, reflecting a shared vision for long-term growth and stability in Central Asia.
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