Chinese and Kazakh FMs Highlight Strengthened Bilateral Cooperation
Astana, The Gulf Observer: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu held a joint press conference on Monday following productive and efficient talks in Astana. Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, praised the deepening relations between China and Kazakhstan, emphasizing their enduring friendship, mutual trust, and solidarity.
Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, both nations have reinforced political trust and mutual support on core issues, forming a community with a shared future, Wang stated. He commended Kazakhstan’s adherence to the one-China principle and its recognition of Taiwan as part of China’s territory.
In light of the recent severe floods in Kazakhstan, China has pledged continued assistance for reconstruction efforts. Bilateral trade reached $41 billion last year, surpassing targets set seven years ahead of schedule. Additionally, 26 out of 45 cooperative projects in various sectors, including mining, energy, and infrastructure, have been completed.
The two countries agreed to leverage their industrial and market strengths to jointly advance the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. They plan to strengthen cooperation in traditional sectors such as trade, investment, and energy, while also focusing on new areas like financial services, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy. China expressed interest in increasing imports of high-quality agricultural products from Kazakhstan.
Both sides committed to enhancing the China-Europe freight train cooperation, improving port clearance and cargo capacity, and supporting the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. Discussions are underway for constructing a third cross-border railway and optimizing the capabilities of key logistics hubs.
People-to-people and cultural exchanges are also a priority, with over 10,000 Kazakh students in China and 1,000 Chinese students in Kazakhstan. The two countries have established numerous Confucius Institutes and institutions offering Kazakh language courses. Last year’s mutual visa exemptions and the success of the “Kazakhstan Tourism Year” in China were highlighted.
The ministers praised the success of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an and expressed a commitment to strengthening the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism. They emphasized the importance of upholding the UN-centered international system and advancing global governance initiatives.
Wang concluded by expressing China’s appreciation for Kazakhstan’s role as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and anticipated a successful SCO summit.
This meeting marks a significant step in bolstering the strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.
