China-Kazakhstan Connectivity: Delegation from Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan Visits China to Explore Road Construction and Logistics Center Projects
Source: Kazakh International News Agency — A government-business delegation led by Nuralekhan Koshenov, Governor of the Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan, recently conducted a working visit to China. The mission aims to further expand regional cooperation between China and Kazakhstan and deepen bilateral economic ties.
During the visit, the delegation focused on enhancing regional investment attractiveness, attracting direct foreign investment, promoting the development of agricultural complexes, introducing modern technologies, and advancing tourism transformation. Both sides plan to establish long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships through coordination with leading Chinese enterprises, financial institutions, and industry associations.
The first stop was Kunming, Yunnan Province — known as the "Flower Capital of Asia" and a pioneer in modern agricultural technology.
During the visit, Koshenov met with Chen Zujun, Chairman of Yunnan Provincial Construction Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., a major state-owned construction enterprise in China. The company boasts extensive experience in infrastructure, construction, real estate development, industrial park projects, and logistics.
In discussions, Koshenov introduced the investment potential of the Turkistan Region, elaborating on government incentive mechanisms, preferential policies for special economic zones and industrial parks, and delving into several upcoming projects planned for implementation in the region.
"The China-Kazakhstan relationship is built on mutual trust, equality, and a long-term strategic partnership. This connection extends beyond economics and has become a crucial cornerstone for regional stability. Regular dialogues between our heads of state provide strong political support for strengthening regional stability and economic collaboration. Under the Belt and Road Initiative framework, bilateral cooperation demonstrates robust vitality. The Turkistan Region is one of the areas with favorable business environments, and we will provide comprehensive guarantees and support for all investment projects. We sincerely invite your side to jointly implement projects aimed at advancing regional cooperation and economic development," said Koshenov.
Both sides reached consensus on the possibility of jointly implementing investment projects, particularly in road construction and logistics center development. The Chinese side expressed strong interest in the proposals and conveyed willingness to establish a long-term strategic partnership.
Currently, China is one of the top three sources of investment for Kazakhstan. In 2025, trade volume between China and Kazakhstan reached $48.7 billion, with Kazakhstan exporting $19 billion and importing $29.7 billion. The share of the Turkistan Region in this total trade amounted to $684.3 million (exports: $102 million, imports: $582.3 million).
The Turkistan Region hosts over 218,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and more than 300 foreign-invested companies. As a key node in the China-Europe international transport corridor, the region handles a significant portion of freight traffic between China and Europe, and Turkestan International Airport already has an annual passenger throughput capacity of 3 million.
Currently, there are 21 industrial zones operating within the Turkistan Region, while small-scale industrial parks are being actively developed, offering investors preferential conditions for production facilities. Under the "Turkistan" Special Economic Zone framework, projects covering 35 priority development areas enjoy tax and customs facilitation benefits.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to deepening regional economic integration based on the profound trust and strategic cooperation between the two countries’ leadership, creating favorable conditions for new project implementations.
Notably, the Turkistan Region is among the first regions in Kazakhstan to establish a direct coordination mechanism with Kunming City, Yunnan Province. The two sides are focusing on exploring cooperation potential in agriculture, food processing, greenhouse technology, floriculture, logistics, and export trade.
As the "Spring City" and the "Flower Capital," Kunming is not only a renowned tourist destination but also a world-class center for agriculture and floriculture. In recent years, it has also emerged as a hub for international coffee culture exchange. The visit by the Turkistan delegation marks a historic step in expanding the region’s international outreach.
Given the Turkistan Region's natural resource advantages in agriculture within Kazakhstan, cooperation with Yunnan Province — China’s Agricultural Innovation Center — will inject new momentum into joint investments, technology transfer, and agricultural product export trade between both sides.
The Turkistan Regional Government stated that it will continue systematically pursuing international cooperation, actively attracting investment and advanced technologies to propel the region’s economy toward high-quality development.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867531196469252/
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