Kazakhstan and China reach new level of cooperation after President Tokayev’s state visit and China-Central Asia Summit
XIAN, MAY 19, 2023 – President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, concluded his three-day state visit to Xian in China today, during which he participated in the milestone China-Central Asia Summit on May 18-19, which was attended by heads of all the Central Asian states. Commenting on his visit on the last day, President Tokayev commended the ties between Kazakhstan and China, saying: “It is safe to say that this visit opened a new golden 30th anniversary of the Kazakh-Chinese cooperation. Undoubtedly, this visit is of particular importance.”
President Tokayev was the first of the Central Asian leaders to hold a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Afterwards, a joint statement on building “enduring friendship” and sharing “weal and woe” was released.
Following the talks with President Tokayev, Xi emphasized that an independent, stable, and prosperous Kazakhstan meets the common interests of the Chinese and Kazakh people, noting that China firmly supports Kazakhstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He called for joint efforts to expand cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, automobile manufacturing and energy, deepen connectivity, and explore new cooperation areas including e-commerce, innovation and big data.
As part of the state visit, 47 business and investment-related documents were signed with Chinese enterprises totalling $22 billion. This includes an agreement of key terms between China's Sinopec and Kazakh oil and gas company KazMunayGaz to invest in a polyethylene plant in Kazakhstan's Atyrau region.
Kazakhstan is targeting $40 billion in annual two-way trade with China by 2030, up from over $31 billion in 2022.
President Tokayev also attended the opening of Kazakhstan’s logistics centre at Xian’s dry port. Commenting on this project, Tokayev said: “Kazakhstan attaches great importance to constructing a Kazakhstan logistics centre in the Xian dry port, which will become the main hub for sending direct container trains to Central Asia, Europe, Türkiye, and Iran.”
Other key outcomes of the state visit include 22 signed documents between the delegations of the two countries, including on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, opening of the National Pavilion of Kazakhstan on JD.com electronic platform, a mutual visa-free travel agreement for tourism, medical treatment, transit, and business purposes, as well as the opening of Kazakhstan’s Consulate General in Xian.
Emphasizing the importance of the establishment of the new Consulate General, President Tokayev said: “Today, another significant event in the history of cooperation between our countries is taking place. The opening of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Xian will give a new impetus to the development of our cooperation.”
The China-Central Asia Summit resulted in a “grand plan for Central Asia's development”, as announced by Xi. He pledged $3.7 billion in fresh loans and grants to the five Central Asian countries. The sides signed the Xian Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit, agreeing to promote the construction of a transport corridor and an energy development partnership, among other initiatives.
China and Central Asian countries agreed to hold the summit every two years and for the next summit in 2025 to be held in Kazakhstan.