Kazakhstan ambassador hails bilateral partnership

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China, Nuryshev Shakhrat, hailed the "unprecedented" strength of bilateral ties, noting both nations aim to double trade volume in the coming years while deepening cooperation under multilateral frameworks.

Speaking at a news conference at the Kazakh embassy in Beijing on Friday, Nuryshev praised the deepening cooperation between the two nations, particularly in connectivity and trade.

On current global trade tensions, Nuryshev argued that unilateral tariff hikes do not facilitate economic and trade development, but rather disrupt global supply chains and lead to the fragmentation of global trade. "Raising tariffs is not an effective measure and cannot resolve related issues," he said, emphasizing that any issues, particularly those in the trade sector, should be resolved through negotiation.

He praised the achievements of Kazakhstan and China in bilateral cooperation, as well as within the multilateral frameworks, including the China-Central Asia mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Highlighting the benefits brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, Nuryshev expressed Kazakhstan's unwavering support for the initiative.

"Thanks to its geographical advantage, Kazakhstan serves as a key hub in the transport routes between Asia and Europe, offering the shortest link connecting Europe with Central Asia, China and Southeast Asia," said the ambassador. "The Belt and Road Initiative has enabled Kazakhstan to fully leverage its transit potential, greatly benefiting the country."

According to data from the Kazakhstan embassy, over 80 percent of China-Europe freight trains currently transit through Kazakhstan under the BRI framework. In 2024, the railway transport volume between China and Kazakhstan grew by 13 percent, reaching 32 million metric tons. The cargo volume on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the "Middle Corridor", reached 4.5 million tons in 2024, marking a 62 percent increase from 2023.

According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and China grew by 6.8 percent in 2024, reaching a record $43.8 billion. "Based on this, both sides have set even more ambitious goals, aiming to double the trade volume in the future," he said.

Kazakhstan has become China's main economic and trade partner in Central Asia, the ambassador noted. "Today, Kazakhstan-China relations stand as a model of efficient cooperation."

yangran1@chinadaily.com.cn