Kazakh-Chinese Cooperation Has Reached the Level of Eternal Strategic Partnership

Kazakhstan and China share a long history of cooperation that has significantly strengthened over recent decades. Their strategic partnership encompasses a wide range of areas, including economics, energy, transport, infrastructure, and humanitarian ties. This partnership plays an important role in bilateral relations and the development of the Eurasian region as a whole. For the third consecutive year, the People's Republic of China remains Kazakhstan's largest trade and economic partner, with trade turnover exceeding $40 billion.

During his official visits to Kazakhstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that new programs and plans had been developed for Chinese-Kazakh relations, setting the direction for the "golden 30th anniversary" of rapid bilateral development. "The Chinese side always views its relations with Kazakhstan from a strategic height and long-term perspective, considering Kazakhstan a priority in its foreign policy regarding neighboring countries and an important partner for cooperation in Central Asia. China's will and determination to maintain and develop bilateral relations are unwavering and will not be changed by individual incidents or shifts in the international situation. China will always be a good neighbor and partner that Kazakhstan can rely on and trust."

The Chinese side will continue strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan in traditional energy sectors while expanding into new energy areas, including photovoltaic and wind power. China will encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kazakhstan and help the country transform its resource advantages into development opportunities to achieve green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.

Xi Jinping states, "The friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan trace back to the thousand-year-old ancient Silk Road, have been strengthened by 32 years of cooperation since establishing diplomatic ties, and have reached a high level of eternal comprehensive strategic partnership. China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to jointly build a more inclusive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, thereby injecting more positive energy into the development and stability of the region and the world."

Xi Jinping emphasized that both China and Kazakhstan are at a key stage of development and recovery. He calls on both sides to strengthen the alignment of their development strategies, exchange governance experiences, and implement more mutually beneficial cooperation projects to accelerate their countries' development. The Chinese side is ready to work with Kazakhstan to enhance trade and economic cooperation, aiming to double bilateral trade turnover as quickly as possible. China will continue to expand imports of high-quality Kazakh goods and create new opportunities for growth in e-commerce and the digital economy.

He also called for increased cooperation in production capacity investment, unleashing the potential for scientific and technological innovation, and expanding cooperation in electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce, and satellite communications. China is ready to actively promote the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route with Kazakhstan and develop a model of diversified, three-dimensional interconnectivity.

China supports hosting the "Year of China Tourism" in Kazakhstan in 2025 and plans to open a second "Lu Ban Workshop" in the country. Both sides are encouraged to utilize their cultural centers and the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between their peoples (especially younger generations), and build public support for comprehensive cooperation.

China supports Kazakhstan in hosting the second China-Central Asia Summit in 2025 and is willing to work with relevant parties, including Kazakhstan, to strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism and achieve new results in regional cooperation. As one of Kazakhstan's largest trading partners, the volume of mutual trade has been steadily growing in recent years. Kazakhstan's main exports to China include raw materials such as oil, natural gas, metals, and agricultural products, while China supplies industrial goods, electronics, automobiles, and chemical products to Kazakhstan.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev describes China as a friendly neighbor, close friend, and important strategic partner: "Based on strong good-neighborly friendship and firm mutual support, Kazakh-Chinese relations have demonstrated unprecedented dynamics of healthy development. Important results have been achieved in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture, and mineral resources, benefiting the peoples of both countries."

Kazakhstan expresses gratitude to China for its firm support of Kazakhstan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The country firmly adheres to the "one China" principle, resolutely combats terrorism, extremism, and separatism, and protects the common security of both nations.

President Tokayev notes that Kazakhstan highly values China's diplomatic concept of peace, various global initiatives put forward by Xi Jinping, and the PRC's important contribution to promoting worldwide peace and development. Kazakhstan is ready to jointly promote the construction of a Kazakh-Chinese community of common destiny, as well as a community of common destiny for mankind. Kazakhstan will continue to actively participate in developing the China-Central Asia mechanism and closely interact with China within the SCO, UN, and other multilateral frameworks.

Kazakhstan is prepared to work with China to further unlock the potential of bilateral cooperation in energy, mineral resources, new energy sources, and interconnectivity. President Tokayev emphasizes the dynamic and multifaceted nature of current bilateral cooperation.

Official Kazakh sources note that "The Chinese direction particularly demonstrates the pragmatic and socially-oriented nature of Kazakhstan's foreign policy. Open and constructive cooperation with the PRC primarily serves the republic's internal development goals. The focus is on modernizing industrial enterprises, developing infrastructure, introducing green technologies, and creating jobs. Currently, more than 4,000 enterprises with Chinese participation are registered in Kazakhstan. The main areas of Chinese investment are transport and logistics (21%), manufacturing (18%), financial and insurance activities (15%), construction (14%), wholesale and retail trade (14%), and mining (10%). The investment structure indicates that Chinese capital takes a long-term and diversified approach to Kazakhstan, focusing not on immediate profits but on mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships."

A key aspect of cooperation is implementing projects within China's Belt and Road Initiative. As an important link in the "New Silk Road," Kazakhstan is actively developing transport and logistics infrastructure, including road and rail corridors, port modernization, and transport hub creation.

Energy remains a crucial partnership area. Kazakhstan exports significant volumes of oil and natural gas to China through pipeline systems such as the Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline and the Central Asia-China gas pipeline. The countries also cooperate in developing hydrocarbon deposits and implementing renewable energy sources.

Chinese companies actively participate in Kazakhstan's investment projects, including industrial facility construction, infrastructure development, and innovative technology implementation. Examples include China's participation in establishing the Astana International Financial Center and developing industrial and special economic zones in Kazakhstan.

Transport connectivity between the countries continues to improve. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and railway lines linking China with Europe via Kazakhstan play crucial roles in reducing cargo delivery times. Kazakhstan's Khorgos terminal on the Chinese border has become one of the region's largest logistics hubs.

The year 2024 has revealed broad prospects for bilateral agricultural cooperation. President Tokayev noted that last year, Kazakhstani farmers harvested a record 27 million tons of grain: "Our country has great export potential and available sowing areas."

The Chinese market represents one of the most promising export destinations. Experts assess it as highly solvent and ready to import the entire range of Kazakhstani products. According to Aliya Musabekova, head of the Asian Studies Department at the KISI Center for Strategic Studies: "This year, one of the trends in Kazakhstan's foreign policy across a broad geopolitical spectrum will be the development of institutional interaction: through intergovernmental relations, between political parties of Kazakhstan and partner countries, and between scientific, expert, and educational organizations. This will give the republic's international positions additional sustainability and stability."

The strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China continues to develop, creating opportunities for mutual growth and stronger ties. Deepening cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative, further integration in transport and energy projects, and the development of cultural and humanitarian ties will contribute to regional stability and prosperity.

Elbrus Mamedov

SR-CENTER.INFO