Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev held talks with a delegation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region headed by Deputy Chairman of the People's Government of the People's Autonomous Republic of China Sun Hongmei, the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan told The DairyNews.
The parties discussed a wide range of issues of trade and economic cooperation, including expanding the capacity and improving the infrastructure of border points, as well as increasing the export of agricultural products from Kazakhstan to China and simplifying the procedures for recognizing certificates of conformity of Kazakhstani goods.
According to Sun Hongmei, the mutual trade turnover between our countries has increased to 37.5 billion dollars, or 37% compared to last year. Despite the steady growth of trade statistics, Kazakhstan and China have great potential for further development of relations.
«XUAR is interested in expanding the supply of Chinese products. To increase the import of agricultural products, we propose to create joint ventures, participate in Kazakh-Chinese exhibitions of goods, as well as open «green corridors» for agricultural products at the checkpoints Dostyk – Alashankou, Maykapchagai – Zimunai, Kalzhat – Dulaty,» the head of the delegation of the XUAR said.
Now the «green corridors» operate at two border checkpoints – Bakhty and Khorgos.
In turn, Kairat Torebayev noted that this project is important for Kazakhstan. However, before the opening of additional «green corridors», it is necessary to determine the list of commodity items for export and remove existing trade barriers for Kazakhstani business. In particular, restrictions on the export of Kazakh meat products to China. Also, a prerequisite for the activation of commodity flows is a predictable trade policy of the partner country.
«We need predictability of trade under China's quarantine regulations. Now Kazakhstan has agreed to transport hoppers to China on a broad gauge. Sanitary services of China allowed to take samples from elevators where Kazakh wheat will be unloaded. Recently, such an agreement was reached, if it is implemented, then you will see an influx of Kazakhstani goods», - the Vice Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan said.
Another issue is the recognition of the research of Kazakh laboratories by the customs services of the People's Republic of China.
Kairat Torebayev suggested that representatives of the People's Government of the XUAR consider the possibility of certifying Kazakh laboratories by Chinese specialists, so that later the protocols of their studies of goods would be accepted as from trusted laboratories of the Chinese authorities. Then exporters could send the cargo for certification to Kazakh laboratories accredited by the Chinese side. This will significantly accelerate the promotion of Kazakhstani goods and facilitate the work of exporters.
In addition, at the meeting, representatives of the Kazakh delegation raised the problem of congestion of vehicles on the border with China.
«On the part of China, there is a long processing of documents, as well as a low capacity of the «Nur Zholy» border checkpoint. Kazakhstan has taken all measures to increase the capacity of checkpoints, an electronic queue system is in operation, all business processes for the passage of vehicles from China have been streamlined», - said Gabit Orazov, Deputy Head of the Transit Department of the Control Department of the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Among other things, the establishment of a daily 12-hour working regime of automobile checkpoints on the border of the PRC and the Republic of Kazakhstan will help solve the issue.
According to the Chinese side, the extension of the working hours of checkpoints is in the plans of the authorities.
In conclusion, the negotiators agreed to hold the next meeting in Xinjiang in January 2023, at which several memoranda are expected to be signed.
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