Strong China-Kazakhstan ties promise growth in cooperation

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Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is scheduled to pay a state visit to China later this week to attend the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the coastal city Qingdao, eastern China.

Flourishing Sino-Kazakh relations

The relationship between China and Kazakhstan has witnessed rapid development since it was established diplomatically 26 years ago.

June 9, 2017: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is welcomed by his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev when attending the opening ceremony of the Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan. /Xinhua Photo

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Nazarbayev while visiting Astana.

Nazarbayev warmly welcomed Xi for his third visit to the country, saying his visit would greatly facilitate the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

As a major country located along the Belt and Road route, Kazakhstan agreed to further integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with China.

A Sino-Kazakhstan Logistics Base in east China's Lianyungang, February 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

In Kazakhstan, Xi first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt in 2013, starting the process of Belt and Road cooperation.

When Xi returned to Astana four years later, the initiative has been translated from a proposal into actions, and from a concept into practice.

Nazarbayev, before his upcoming visit, repeated optimism about cooperation with China as the SCO is aligning its development plan with that of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese workers mark the 17th "safe production month" in Kazakhstan, June 5, 2018. /VCG Photo

Closer trade ties

China and Kazakhstan have promoted a rapid expansion of commerce and partnership, harnessing Kazakhstan’s oil, natural gas and other major energy resources.

The China-Kazakhstan pipeline, for example, has been praised as a good example of the type of synergy that can be generated by the SCO.

Nazarbayev called it the “pinnacle of investment” as the two countries are equal partners in the project.

July 9, 2008: Construction of Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline in the area of the Almaty-Kapchagay motorway. /VCG Photo

The one-billion-US-dollar pipeline, which transported 12 million tons of oil in 2017, is expected to reach closer to the maximum capacity of 20 million tons in the coming years.

Held last September, the first forum on Kazakhstan-China local cooperation was another example of growing economic cooperation between the two nations.

The forum is essential for bilateral dialogue and consultations on financial issues since a number of contracts on business and governmental levels were signed.

December 21, 2017: Kazakh students talk with Chinese students after class in east China's Yiwu City. /VCG Photo

Deepened cultural exchanges

More tourists from China have shown interest in visiting Kazakhstan, and more Kazakh students are taking Chinese-language courses as an investment in their futures.

Beijing and Astana have been putting efforts into developing cultural ties. One concrete step was taken a decade ago with the opening of Confucius cultural centers in four cities across Kazakhstan, mutually sponsored by both nations.

The Kazakh government has also invested in the "China Friendly Program" which aims to create a comfortable environment for Chinese tourists during their travels.

(Cover: The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit is scheduled for June 9 to 10 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province. /VCG Photo)