Kazakhstan to forge stronger bonds with China under BRI

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China Shakhrat Nuryshev praised the robust and mutually beneficial partnership between China and Kazakhstan, highlighting the pivotal role played by the Belt and Road Initiative in bolstering bilateral ties and fostering strategic collaboration.

He made the remarks in a press conference held at the Kazakhstan embassy in Beijing on Friday, while introducing the achievements of the visits to China by the president and foreign minister of Kazakhstan, the launch of the Kazakhstan tourism year in China, and the current status and prospects of the development of bilateral relations.

Nuryshev lauded the effectiveness and mutual benefits of bilateral cooperation under the BRI framework, expressing Kazakhstan's unwavering support for the initiative and its commitment to active participation in further aligning the two nations' development strategies.

He underscored the significant progress made in various collaborative ventures, including the recent inauguration of the Kazakhstan Xi'an Terminal, which connects China with Kazakhstan, Central Asia and Europe, facilitating the transportation of diverse commodities, equipment, and goods.

Furthermore, the ambassador underscored the substantial impact of the BRI, citing that over 80 percent of railway freight between China and Europe transits through Kazakhstan. Last year, railway transportation volume between the two countries increased by 22 percent year-on-year, reaching 28.3 million metric tons, according to data from the embassy.

He also highlighted the remarkable surge in bilateral trade, with a 30 percent increase last year, reaching a historic high of $41 billion. Additionally, the construction of the third cross-border railway between China and Kazakhstan has commenced, further enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

Nuryshev emphasized that these developments are a testament to the tangible benefits brought about by the BRI. He said strategic cooperation within the BRI framework has been instrumental in facilitating the successful implementation of various projects.

He concluded by expressing his confidence that the ongoing and forthcoming collaboration under the BRI will continue to exert a positive influence on the trajectory of trade, further enhancing the transit and transportation potential between China and Kazakhstan.