ASTANA – Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to $100 billion during talks between Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at the ninth China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi.
Serik Zhumangarin and Ding Xuexiang. Photo credit: Prime Minister’s press service. The meeting also focused on expanding investment and transport connectivity, as well as advancing joint industrial projects. Opening the expo, Zhumangarin said the event has become an important platform for strengthening trade and economic cooperation, expanding business ties and launching new joint projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on June 25.
The meeting also focused on expanding investment and transport connectivity, as well as advancing joint industrial projects. Photo credit: Prime Minister’s press service. He noted that Kazakhstan-China relations have reached a new stage of comprehensive strategic partnership, supported by the close ties between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“For Kazakhstan, Xinjiang is not only our closest neighbor but also a key transport and logistics hub providing access to China’s vast market. We are ready to expand exports of high-quality, environmentally friendly Kazakh products, including agricultural, food, metallurgical and chemical goods,” Zhumangarin said.
He added that this year’s expo would serve as a launchpad for new projects to boost industrial cooperation, mutual investment and production chains. Kazakhstan’s national pavilion features products from more than 30 domestic companies, showcasing the country’s export potential in agriculture, food processing, light industry and value-added manufacturing.
During talks with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, the two officials discussed strategic partnership, investment projects, transport infrastructure and trade cooperation. Zhumangarin praised the technological level of the expo and invited Chinese manufacturers of advanced agricultural chemicals and drones to localize production in Kazakhstan.
“Today the exhibition showcased cutting-edge achievements in agricultural chemicals and drone manufacturing. We would like to invite these producers and investors to Kazakhstan. We are ready to provide all the necessary conditions for localizing production,” he said.