Kazakhstan-China Cooperation: Kazakhstan Enterprises Sign Export Contracts Worth $98 Million in Xi'an, China
The Kazakh Information Agency reported on April 3 that during the visit of Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shchekinayev, to Xi'an, China, companies from Kazakhstan and China signed export contracts totaling $98 million.
According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, the visit took place from April 1 to April 2 with the aim of deepening cooperation with the Chinese province of Shaanxi in trade, investment, and logistics.
On the first day of the visit, Minister Shchekinayev met with Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress. Both sides exchanged opinions in depth on expanding investment cooperation, promoting joint production, strengthening agricultural product exports, and optimizing transportation and logistics channels. Shchekinayev emphasized that Kazakhstan not only focuses on trade itself but also hopes to promote joint manufacturing and offshore cooperation projects to expand export potential through a "regional alignment" model.
According to statistics provided by Kazakhstan, the delegation brought proposals for export projects involving 16 categories of products with a total value exceeding $490 million. Shchekinayev stated that the 30-day visa-free policy implemented between Kazakhstan and China will also inject new momentum into personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between both parties.
In the B2B matchmaking sessions, more than 60 companies from Kazakhstan had in-depth talks with over 100 companies from China, eventually reaching export agreements totaling $98 million. The transactions were mainly concentrated in food areas such as grains, oilseeds, and dairy products, which have high demand in the Chinese market.
This economic and trade event was organized by the Kazakhstan Trade Policy Development Center (QazTrade) and held at the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Xi'an. The exhibition was built in the form of a Kazakh yurt, showcasing product samples from 50 companies. It is worth noting that two years ago, the President of Kazakhstan hosted the opening ceremony of the local commodity showroom at this same venue.
During the visit, QazTrade signed cooperation agreements with the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and Xian Aikou Grain and Oil Industrial Group, aiming to deepen对接cooperation in commodity circulation, logistics infrastructure construction, and agricultural product processing.
In addition, separate meetings were held with several Chinese companies during the visit. Minister Shchekinayev pointed out in the meetings that Kazakhstan has more than 260 million hectares of agricultural land, ranking third globally after Australia and Canada. He welcomed Chinese enterprises to enter the agricultural market of Kazakhstan as investors, develop agricultural product production and processing according to their own standards and technologies, and conduct exports through the "offtake" model.
It was reported that both parties will also strengthen cooperation in culture, humanities, education, and other fields. This year, Shaanxi will launch its first "cultural tourism train" to Almaty, and plans to host the "Silk Road Art Festival" in Kazakhstan. Secretary Zhao Yide also invited Kazakh universities to join the SCO University Alliance and the "Belt and Road" Vocational Education Alliance.
At the end of the visit, Minister Shchekinayev invited Chinese companies to participate in the Import and Export Fair to be held in Astana from June 11 to 13, which is part of the related activities of the second China-Central Asia Summit. Currently, nearly 200 Chinese companies have confirmed their intention to participate.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828372115060746/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.