Kazakhstan and China are committed to doubling bilateral trade volume to $100 billion.

Serik Zhumangarin, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, stated that Kazakhstan and China aim to raise their bilateral trade to $100 billion in the coming years—a target nearly double the projected trade volume for 2026.

According to news from the Kazakh government’s press department, Zhumangarin held talks with Chinese officials during the 9th China-Central Asia Expo in Ürümqi.

The discussions focused on deepening strategic partnership, joint investment projects, infrastructure development in transportation and logistics, as well as broader economic and trade cooperation.

Kazakhstan reported that bilateral trade reached a historical high of $48.7 billion in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, total trade amounted to $22 billion, marking a 27% year-on-year increase.

Officials expect trade volume to exceed $50 billion by the end of this year, with more than half of it linked to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, which remains a key hub for economic exchanges between the two countries.

Zhumangarin said: "Our top priority is achieving $100 billion in bilateral trade in the near future. To this end, we need to accelerate the approval of the 'Kazakhstan-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Plan' and the 'Roadmap for Cooperation 2027–2030.'

He added that since independence, China has invested approximately $30 billion in Kazakhstan, making it one of the country’s largest foreign investors.

Kazakhstan has invited Chinese enterprises to expand participation in high-value-added projects, including agricultural product processing, full-chain metallurgical production, agricultural chemical manufacturing, and drone production.

Zhumangarin also highly praised the technological level of the China-Central Asia Expo and urged Chinese manufacturers and investors to achieve local production in Kazakhstan.

Agricultural trade was another key topic of discussion. Bilateral agricultural trade has already reached $2 billion, with China having approved imports of 34 types of Kazakh agricultural products; nine additional items, including chilled meat, are still under review. Zhumangarin noted that about 85% of land freight between China and Europe currently passes through Kazakhstan. With the completion of the new Bakhty-Ayagoz railway border crossing, the total transit capacity at the country’s border points is expected to reach 100 million tons annually.

China confirmed its willingness to jointly advance the construction of this new railway crossing. According to officials, this move will enhance the resilience and security of international transport corridors.

China expressed its intention to deepen cooperation with Kazakhstan in digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, and navigation technologies, and encouraged Kazakh enterprises to leverage the "China-Central Asia Expo" platform to expand their business presence in the Chinese market.

According to prior reports by Central Asia Times, China currently accounts for nearly a quarter of Kazakhstan’s total foreign trade. However, the growth rate of China’s exports to Kazakhstan continues to outpace Kazakhstan’s exports to China.

Source: Central Asia Times

Author: Dmitry Pokidayev

Original: toutiao.com/article/1869117326152777/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.