ISLAMABAD: Editor’s Desk – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said that Kazakhstan fully supports China’s mega project Belt and Road Initiative. He said this in his recent interview to Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper conducted by Director General of LLP Qazaq gazetteri Dikhan Kamzabekuly, shedding light on the issues related to domestic and foreign policy, socioeconomic development of the country, the tragic January events, domestic violence, construction of a nuclear power plant and other pressing topics, Kazinform News Agency reports.
He was asked to respond to the question , “Relations between Kazakhstan and China hold a significant place in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. In recent years, there have been positive changes in how Kazakhstan’s society perceives its eastern neighbor. What are the prospects for further building relations with China?
President replied , “Today, Kazakhstan and China maintain active relations based on friendship, good neighborliness, and a long-standing strategic partnership.Together with President Xi Jinping, we have embarked on a new era of ‘golden’ relations between Kazakhstan and China, a partnership spanning 30 years. Last year, two visits to China further solidified this partnership.”
“During the talks with the President of China in Xi’an and Beijing, we achieved important agreements and outlined specific ways for their implementation.Private contacts between our nations further reflect the high level of relations between Astana and Beijing, exemplifying the strength of Kazakhstan-China relations, Mr. Tokayev added.
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He said that the mutual commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and China has seen unprecedented growth, reaching a record $24.3 billion in the first 10 months of 2023. We are actively working on expanding the list of export items and increasing deliveries to China.
Additionally, China has traditionally been one of the largest investors in Kazakhstan, with cumulative investments totaling $24 billion.
Kazakhstan’s strategic geographical position, situated between the East and West and sharing a border with China, presents extensive prospects for the transit of Chinese goods in various directions.
Important agreements, such as the Agreement on the Joint Development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the memorandum on the joint construction of a railway line from the Kazakh city of Ayagoz to the Chinese city of Tacheng, were signed during the Third “Belt and Road” Forum in Beijing.
These agreements will undoubtedly boost the development of Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics sector. Kazakhstan fully supports China’s “Belt and Road” mega project, as demonstrated by a speech delivered at the forum in Beijing last October.
The implementation of a visa-free regime between Kazakhstan and China holds vital importance. Kazakhstan’s citizens are now exempt from visa requirements when visiting China, and I hope many will seize this opportunity.
President concluded, “When it comes to China, we should not harbor any unfounded fears or rely on outdated notions. China is a highly developed State, including in the field of high technologies, and this fact is recognized worldwide. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for Kazakhstan to cooperate with our eastern neighbor and effectively utilize the advantages of our friendly relations and mutual trust.”
