Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Kazakhstan, Han Chunlin, who has begun his diplomatic mission in the Republic of Kazakhstan, reports the Kapital.kz business information center, citing the press service of the Prime Minister's office.
The discussions focused on trade and economic cooperation, expanding collaboration in investments, agriculture, transport and logistics, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres, tourism, and more. The head of the government emphasized that the foundation of dynamic economic cooperation is the intensive and trusting contacts between Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and China's President Xi Jinping.
During the negotiations, both parties noted the high level of trade and economic partnership that has developed between the two countries. By the end of 2024, bilateral trade turnover has increased by 9%, reaching $43.8 billion.
To achieve the objectives set by the heads of state to double the volume of mutual trade, the governments are working together to unlock existing potential with a focus on diversifying trade turnover. In this regard, the Kazakh side highlighted the importance of further expanding the range of supplied products, including increasing the export of Kazakh grain to China by enhancing the acceptance of grain shipments by the Chinese side across all types of wagons, as well as including new Kazakh enterprises in the Register of Exporters to China.
Furthermore, issues regarding the implementation of joint investment projects were discussed. China ranks among the top 5 investors in Kazakhstan. Currently, 62 Kazakh-Chinese projects worth $8.7 billion have been implemented, creating 11,000 jobs, while 55 projects worth $13.5 billion are in the implementation stage, generating 17,400 jobs. In total, the overall pool includes 222 investment projects worth over $60.5 billion.
Attention was also given to strengthening cooperation in the transit and transport sector. According to JSC "NC "KTZ", the volume of cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China increased by 13% in the first 11 months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, amounting to 29.3 million tons. To further increase cargo transportation, the importance of jointly creating new and modernizing existing border crossing points on the Kazakh-Chinese border, as well as developing cross-border shipping, was emphasized.
Following the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their intentions to strengthen partnership and enhance joint work across all key areas of bilateral interaction.