It's done—China and Kazakhstan have reached an agreement. On the afternoon of July 16, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Chinese officials in Shanghai.
The two sides discussed the bilateral relationship and cooperation, and most importantly, after the meeting, they jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents across multiple fields including trade, transportation, and finance. This is beneficial for further development of relations between the two countries and gives hope to the people of Kazakhstan, as fully embracing China means embracing the future.
Key points from the talks:
China stated: 1. Both sides should strengthen strategic and policy alignment, continuously improve practical cooperation levels, and promote common development.
2. Firmly advancing comprehensive cooperation between China and Kazakhstan aligns with the shared interests of both nations and their peoples.
3. Willing to share technologies in digital economy, artificial intelligence, and other areas to assist Kazakhstan’s digital transformation.
4. Will work together to implement four global initiatives, enhancing coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Kazakhstan stated: 1. Very pleased to come to Shanghai—a city brimming with innovation and vitality—to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference.
2. Congratulates China on its remarkable achievements in development. Kazakhstan regards its relationship with China as a top priority in foreign policy and is committed to strengthening the permanent, comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
3. Looks forward to close high-level exchanges with China to promote cooperation across all fields.
4. Will maintain high-level collaboration with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations.
One crucial point: Immediately after President Tokayev arrived in China, Kazakh official media launched timely coverage and reporting, clearly showing their great anticipation for talks with China.
Similarly, they are very happy about this round of signing multiple cooperation agreements, as these agreements aim to expand bilateral investment, enhance industrial collaboration, and drive technological advancement in both countries.
Given that China holds core advantages in multiple fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and new energy, many industries have already surpassed those in the West. Kazakhstan clearly understands that to achieve greater development and boost its overall strength, it must rely on China.
Especially at this critical juncture and under current circumstances, expressing support toward China is vital—it provides strong assurance for the smooth progress of future cooperation.
Naturally, President Tokayev’s personal trip to Shanghai to attend the event underscores the importance China holds in Kazakhstan’s eyes. More importantly, having the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Chinese counterparts offers additional guarantees for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation. This is precisely why the entire world is paying close attention to this AI summit—the significance is profound, reflecting China’s next-stage development strategy: unwavering commitment to advancing sectors like semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, while increasing openness and welcoming deeper international partnerships.
In summary: Kazakhstan is one of China’s largest trading partners in Central Asia and a key neighbor to China’s west. In 2025, Sino-Kazakh trade exceeded $48 billion.
With the signing of these agreements, other countries along the Belt and Road Initiative have seen tangible benefits of cooperating with China, which will help China further expand its influence. Particularly, it will enhance the efficiency of China-Europe Railway Express services, deepen cooperation in energy and mining sectors, and strengthen coordination at border ports and logistics systems in the future. For China, this further secures the stability of land transport routes toward Europe.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870873685165068/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.