Learning from China's innovation ecosystem

Editor's Note：China-Kazakhstan cooperation is expanding well beyond traditional trade and infrastructure into artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud computing and advanced manufacturing. During a recent visit to Shanghai for the China-Kazakhstan High-Tech Roundtable Conference, Timur Turlov, founder and CEO of Kazakhstan's Freedom Holding Corp, one of the nation's largest investment conglomerates, met executives from some of China's leading technology companies, resulting in agreements spanning digital payments, autonomous mobility, cloud computing and agricultural technology. China Daily reporter WangMingji spoke to him about his visit.

Q1: During your visit to China, what impressed you most?

Turlov: What impressed me most about China was how much it has developed in recent years, how modern it has become, and how impressive its progress has been.

I knew about China's technological achievements before coming here. But reading about them and experiencing them firsthand are two very different things. Everywhere you go, you see digital services, advanced infrastructure and innovation already integrated into people's everyday lives.

The speed at which ideas are translated into practical applications is remarkable. Whether it is digital payments, intelligent transportation or AI-powered services, many technologies that other countries are still discussing have already become part of daily life in China. That ability to innovate at scale is something that left a lasting impression on me.

Q2: What do you think has enabled China to become a global leader in technology and innovation?

Turlov: We can see that both the private and public sectors have developed a truly unique culture of hard work and innovation. China has accumulated experience and expertise that are now among the most advanced in the world.

What is particularly impressive is the combination of technological innovation with an enormous industrial base. China is not only developing new technologies; it is able to manufacture, deploy and continuously improve them on a very large scale.

That creates an environment where companies can innovate quickly, learn from the market and continue improving their products. There is a great deal other countries can learn from that experience.

Naturally, we would like to learn from and adopt the best practices that have emerged in China's manufacturing sector. I would also like to see similarly advanced technological solutions introduced in our country.

Q3: Kazakhstan has also made significant progress in digitalization. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for cooperation?

Turlov: We already have many digital services that are comparable in quality to those in China. Nevertheless, when it comes to such a large and developed industrial sector, there is certainly a great deal we can learn.

I don't see this as one side teaching the other. I see it as complementary strengths.

Kazakhstan has talented software engineers, strong financial technologies and a rapidly developing digital economy. China has world-leading manufacturing capabilities, advanced technologies and enormous experience in commercializing innovation.

That is also the path Freedom has followed. It has grown from a brokerage firm into a broader digital ecosystem spanning banking, payments, telecommunications, insurance, travel services and digital platforms. Today, we employ more than 2,500 software engineers and developers in Kazakhstan and continue to invest heavily in AI and cloud infrastructure.

If we combine those strengths, both sides benefit. China contributes industrial expertise and technological capabilities, while Kazakhstan offers software development, engineering talent and an environment where new technologies can be adapted and scaled across Central Asia.

Q4: Freedom Holding signed agreements with Alibaba Cloud, Ant Group, Tencent, Baidu and Geely during your visit. What do these partnerships mean for Kazakhstan?

Turlov: These agreements were not built overnight. They are the result of many years of developing our own technology capabilities.

Our banking subsidiary, Freedom Bank Kazakhstan, has followed a digital-first strategy for years through its integrated SuperApp, bringing together banking, investment and payments alongside insurance, travel bookings, grocery delivery, medical and government services in a single ecosystem. Today, our group serves more than 14 million clients and we believe the agreements with China's technology leaders represent the next stage of that evolution.

Our partnership with Ant Group and Tencent will allow customers in Kazakhstan to use Alipay and WeChat Pay through the Freedom SuperApp when shopping or traveling in China, paying directly in tenge (the Kazakhstani currency). Chinese visitors to Kazakhstan, in turn, will be able to use the payment platforms they already rely on through Freedom Bank's payment terminals.

Together with Alibaba Cloud, we are expanding cloud infrastructure through our data center in Astana. With Baidu, we are adapting Apollo Go's autonomous driving technology for Kazakhstan, while our partnership with Geely will support the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

These projects are designed to improve everyday services while strengthening Kazakhstan's digital infrastructure and supporting the country's long-term technological development.

Q5: You have described China as a technological partner rather than simply a market. Why?

Turlov: Today, China is an important potential partner for us – a source of innovation and a leader in areas such as the private sector, food production, battery manufacturing and many other rapidly developing industries.

Partnerships should not be about simply buying technology. They should be about learning from each other, adapting technologies to local markets and creating something new together.

That philosophy also extends to agriculture. Together with Chinese partners, we plan to localize the production of agricultural drones in Kazakhstan for crop monitoring, precision farming and crop treatment, while expanding delivery drone pilot programs already operating in several major cities.

The broader objective is not simply to import technology, but to build a genuinely mutually beneficial partnership that we combine our software expertise and digital products with China's technological and industrial strengths. Our ecosystem model has already proven successful in Kazakhstan, and we are now exploring how it can be expanded into international markets through partnerships with global technology companies.

Q6: The Digital Silk Road is becoming an increasingly important part of China-Kazakhstan cooperation. What role do you see Kazakhstan playing?

Turlov: Kazakhstan is particularly well positioned for this.

It is a neutral country with good relations with its closest neighbors. At the same time, it does not belong to major geopolitical blocs and does not seek to dominate the region.

We want to maintain strong relations with China while also becoming a platform for joint innovation.

Kazakhstan offers a predictable political environment, highly developed human capital, good-quality infrastructure, skilled professionals, natural resources and stability. It is a place where investment can be directed with confidence.

Those qualities make Kazakhstan a natural bridge connecting Chinese innovation with Central Asia and, potentially, other international markets.

Q7: Looking ahead, what message would you like business leaders around the world to take away from your visit to China?

Turlov: My biggest takeaway is that innovation today is increasingly about cooperation rather than competition.

China has demonstrated what can be achieved through long-term investment in technology, manufacturing and talent. There is enormous value in learning from that experience.

For Kazakhstan, this is an opportunity to work with one of the world's leading innovation ecosystems while contributing our own expertise in software, financial technology and digital services.

I believe these qualities can make Kazakhstan a strong and reliable partner—not only for China, but also for countries in the West.

Ultimately, successful cooperation is not about one country copying another. It is about combining different strengths to develop better technologies, build stronger industries and create more opportunities for people in both countries.

wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com