Shanghai: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with executives of top Chinese high-tech companies in Shanghai, emphasizing record trade levels, increased investment, and new industrial projects as Kazakhstan aims to enhance its strategic partnership with China. During a roundtable with Chinese business leaders, Tokayev highlighted those bilateral relations have reached a new development phase.

According to Anadolu Agency, the president stated that bilateral trade achieved a record $49 billion last year, with cumulative Chinese investment in Kazakhstan surpassing $30 billion. Over 8,500 companies with Chinese capital are currently operating in Kazakhstan, including major firms like CNPC, CITIC, and Huawei.

Tokayev pointed out several ongoing joint ventures, such as the construction of a gas chemical complex with Sinopec, a deep corn-processing plant with Fufeng Group, and a cotton-textile cluster with Lihua Group. He also highlighted the growing presence of Chinese automakers in Kazakhstan, with production facilities for brands like HOWO, Yutong, and JAC, and a multi-brand facility for Changan, Great Wall Motor, and Chery vehicles established last year.

The Kazakh leader remarked that these projects indicate a shift towards innovation, advanced technologies, and industrial modernization in bilateral cooperation. Speaking before the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Tokayev shared Kazakhstan's ambition to become a major transport, logistics, and agricultural hub linking China with Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Europe, identifying it as a strategic goal.

Tokayev also mentioned that 13 international transport corridors run through Kazakhstan, with about 85% of rail freight traffic between China and Europe transiting the country. Kazakhstan has invested more than $35 billion in transport and logistics infrastructure over the past 15 years.