ASTANA — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described China as Kazakhstan’s destined neighbor, close friend, and long-term strategic partner during the Sept. 2 Eighth Meeting of the Kazakhstan–China Business Council in Beijing, Akorda press service reported. 

He noted that bilateral trade reached a record $44 billion last year, and emphasized the two countries’ intention to push this figure even higher over the next five years, backed by strong political will at the highest level. China has already invested $27 billion in Kazakhstan, with more than 6,000 Chinese-backed enterprises operating in the country, ranging from giants such as CNPC, Sinopec, CITIC, and Huawei to mid-sized businesses. Tokayev described his talks with President Xi Jinping as productive, voicing confidence in the partnership’s future.

He underlined Kazakhstan’s steady economic growth, with GDP expected to surpass $300 billion by year’s end. Reforms such as the National Digital Investment Platform, a new Investment Headquarters, and the recent bilateral investment protection agreement, coupled with a visa-free regime, have all strengthened the investment climate. Tokayev said Kazakhstan and China share vast untapped potential — and now is the time to unlock it.

Transport and logistics

Kazakhstan, as a close neighbor and reliable partner, fully supports and actively participates in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, Tokayev said. The country accounts for 85% of all continental freight between China and Europe. The commissioning of the second track on the Dostyk–Mointy railway this year will increase the corridor’s transit capacity fivefold. 

Meanwhile, freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route grew 62% last year to 4.5 million tons, with a target of 10 million tons in the near future. President Tokayev noted that shipments through Kazakhstan’s Caspian ports, specifically Aktau and Kuryk, are also growing steadily. Additionally, key joint infrastructure projects, such as the Kazakhstan–China logistics terminal in Lianyungang and the dry port in Xi’an, are already operational. 

“For Chinese companies, Kazakhstan’s transit potential opens tremendous opportunities,” Tokayev said.

Energy and nuclear cooperation

Tokayev outlined major projects in the energy sector, including a $7.4 billion polyethylene plant in the Atyrau region with Sinopec and the planned modernization of the Shymkent oil refinery with CNPC. Renewable projects are also in focus, including initiatives with China Power International Holding and China Energy, as well as the construction of a 160 MW gas-steam power plant in Mangystau with China Huadian Corporation.

He added that Kazakhstan and China agreed to expand cooperation in the nuclear industry, involving Chinese technologies and specialist training. CNNC will play a central role, while SANY Corporation continues to expand its presence in Kazakhstan’s energy market. Tokayev emphasized that traditional energy sources remain crucial to Kazakhstan’s security, but joint projects across the sector will strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership.

Large-scale mining and metallurgical projects with Chinese firms are underway, including Fujian Hengwang Investment’s steel plant in Zhambyl region (three million tons annual capacity) and Jiaxin International’s tungsten ore processing project in Almaty region.

In construction and manufacturing, Tokayev cited China Glass’s new glass plant, a forthcoming multi-brand auto plant in Almaty with a capacity of 120,000 vehicles annually, producing GWM, Chery, and Changan models, and a new BYD electric bus plant in the same city. 

“These projects diversify Kazakhstan’s economy and expand its export-oriented base. These are only a few examples,” he said.

Adding momentum, Tokayev and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang jointly inaugurated Kazakhstan’s first wind energy components plant in the Zhambyl region via videoconference. The facility, built through a partnership between Samruk-Kazyna and SANY Renewable Energy, will produce gondolas, hubs, towers, and other key components for wind farms, boosting Kazakhstan’s green energy capacity. Located in the Silk Road Special Economic Zone in Shu, it will play a vital role in expanding renewable energy across the country.

Agriculture and digital economy

Tokayev reminded that Kazakhstan is the world’s sixth-largest holder of arable land and a top-ten grain exporter, supplying over 10 million tons of wheat and 2 million tons of flour annually. He said Kazakhstan can supply up to 2 million tons of grain each year to China. Beyond exports, Kazakhstan seeks to develop joint processing industries, highlighting Dalian Group’s deep grain processing plant in Akmola region and Fufeng Group’s corn-processing project in Zhambyl region, aimed at exports to China and Europe. He also invited Chinese partners to cooperate in producing organic and high-quality livestock products.

On digitalization, Tokayev praised China’s global achievements in the field and cited forecasts that the AI market could reach $5 trillion by 2033, accounting for 30% of the global tech industry. He mentioned that at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, he supported China’s initiative to establish a Global Organization for AI Cooperation. Kazakhstan, he added, is systematically developing its digital economy, having launched Central Asia’s first supercomputer and the Alem.AI International AI Center this year. The construction of Alatau City, envisioned as a hub for innovation, crypto, and tech entrepreneurship, is underway and will soon receive special ecosystem status.

Finance and investment

Tokayev also called for deepening cooperation in finance, noting that the Astana International Financial Centre now hosts over 4,200 companies from dozens of countries, including 850 from China. In partnership with leading Chinese banks, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan recently issued its debut eurobonds in Chinese yuan (Dim Sum bonds), a first for Central Asia, which strengthened international investor confidence in Kazakhstan’s financial system.

Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan has created the most favorable conditions for large-scale investments and ambitious projects. He assured Chinese business leaders that they will find reliable partners and unique opportunities in Kazakhstan. 

“I am confident that the agreements reached today will boost economic interaction and give new momentum to our strategic partnership. These goals fully align with Kazakhstan’s national interests, which is why their implementation will remain under close attention of the top leadership,” he said.

The Kazakhstan–China Business Council concluded with the signing of over 70 commercial documents worth $15 billion.

US President Donald Trump says India has offered to cut its tariffs “to nothing” even as he called the current trade stalemate with the country “a totally one sided disaster”.

US tariffs of 50% on goods from India – which includes 25% penalty for Delhi’s refusal to stop buying oil from Russia – took effect last week.

India has not responded to Trump’s latest comment but such war of words over Russian oil has caused Delhi-Washington ties to hit an all-time low.

Trump’s comment coincides with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Washington says Delhi has been indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US,” Trump wrote, adding Delhi should have cut tariffs “years ago”.

Delhi has previously said that oil supply from Russia was vital to meet the energy needs of its vast population.

It has also called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.

Last week, the country’s commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, said India “will neither bow down nor ever appear weak” in its economic relationships with other countries.

He also said the country was ready to a have a free-trade agreement with anyone who wanted it.

On Monday, Trump wrote: “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades.”

The US was, until recently, India’s largest trading partner and the tariffs have sparked fears that exports and growth in the world’s fifth largest economy could suffer.

At the SCO summit, Modi was seen shaking hands with Putin ahead of a meeting hosted by Xi.

The SCO, whose members include China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia, is seen as a challenge to Trump and US dominance on a global level.

Putin and Modi later spent 45 minutes inside the Russian leader’s car – after which Modi posted a picture of their journey alongside the compliment to Putin.

The Indian PM said he had an “insightful” exchange with Putin.