Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister: Chinese Highly Appraise High-quality Agricultural Products in Central Asia, with Huge Potential in Transit Transport Cooperation

Report of Kazakh International News Agency, during the second "Central Asia-China" Business Council Meeting held on June 17 in Astana, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumankalin delivered a speech, pointing out that organic agricultural products exports from Central Asian countries to the Chinese market are becoming increasingly active and have received high recognition from Chinese consumers. At the same time, he called for deepening cooperation between Chinese enterprises in areas such as transit transport and infrastructure, and suggested establishing the Business Council Meeting as an annual regular meeting mechanism.

Zhumankalin pointed out that Central Asia is one of the main regions in the world for developing irrigation agriculture. In recent years, camel milk exported by Kazakhstan, cherries from Uzbekistan, dried fruits from Tajikistan, honey from Kyrgyzstan, and cotton from Turkmenistan have frequently appeared in the Chinese market and have been widely welcomed by consumers.

He stated that the trade in agricultural products between Central Asian countries and China increases steadily every year, and there is huge potential for cooperation in agricultural production, deep processing, water-saving agricultural technology, and innovative joint ventures. Kazakhstan is willing to provide favorable conditions for Chinese investors who wish to enter this region.

It was introduced that in 2024, the two-way trade volume between Central Asia and China reached 95 billion US dollars, of which about half came from Kazakhstan. The bilateral trade volume between Kazakhstan and China set a new historical record, reaching 44 billion US dollars.

Zhumankalin emphasized that Central Asia holds a strategic hub position in connecting east-west and north-south transportation corridors. Currently, more than 80% of the land transport between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan, fully demonstrating the significant importance of this region within the framework of China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

He introduced that in 2024, the cargo volume transported via the "Middle Corridor" - the transportation route connecting China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and European countries - increased by more than 60% year-on-year, reaching 4.5 million tons. Kazakhstan plans to increase this figure to 10 million tons annually by 2030 and welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in related infrastructure construction and investment cooperation.

Zhumankalin also proposed at the meeting that the "Central Asia-China" Business Council Meeting mechanism should be institutionalized and established as an annual regular exchange platform. He pointed out that the business sector plays an important role in promoting regional cultural and economic ties, contributing to enhancing understanding and friendship among the people.

He expressed to Chinese enterprises that Kazakhstan will continue to be a reliable, open, and transparent partner for China, and is willing to jointly explore broader cooperation prospects with China and Central Asian countries.

It was reported that this meeting is the second Business Council Meeting following the first one held on May 19, 2023 in Xi'an, China, and also corresponds with the upcoming Second Summit of Heads of State of "Central Asia-China" in Astana, with thousands of representatives from China and the five Central Asian countries attending.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835164666881091/

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