The second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue concluded in Almaty with significant progress on multiple fronts. Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, and Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtleu reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and addressing shared security challenges.
Growing Economic Ties
Wang highlighted record-breaking bilateral trade volumes despite global economic uncertainties, with new energy projects and infrastructure developments boosting connectivity. The mutual visa exemption policy has led to increased cultural exchanges, creating 53% more cross-border travel this year compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Security and Tech Collaboration
Both nations agreed to combat terrorism and extremism while pioneering joint projects in artificial intelligence and digital economy sectors. “Our cooperation spans from steel mills to smartphone apps,” Nurtleu remarked, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s role as China’s largest Central Asian trading partner.
Regional Leadership Vision
The ministers announced preparations for the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit, positioning themselves as stabilizers in Eurasian geopolitics. They pledged support for multilateral institutions like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while opposing what they termed “unilateral protectionism” in global trade.
