For Kazakhstan, China is enormous market with unlimited opportunities – Chinese Ambassador Zhang Xiao

Since November 10, 2023, the nationals of Kazakhstan and China has been enjoying a visa-free travel, following the decision of the two countries’ leaders. In an interview with 24.kz TV Channel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao unveils the changes ensued by the elimination of bureaucratic barriers and procedures, Kazinform News Agency reports.

According to Zhang Xiao, for Kazakhstan, China is an enormous market with almost unlimited opportunities, which naturally attracts major business entities, small and medium businesses, youth, tourists and those willing to undergo treatment.

All these restrictions have been removed, and it became much easier for businessmen to find partners and do business there, which will positively affect economy, the Chinese diplomat says.

Speaking about the economic interaction of China and Kazakhstan, Zhang Xiao stressed mutual complementarity. In 10 months of 2023, trade turnover between the two countries reached $32.7 billion, which is 28.5% more compared to the same period in 2022.

With this dynamics, we will likely hit a new record at the end of the year - $37-38 billion, the Ambassador said.

He reminded that in early 2022, the leaders of Kazakhstan and China set an ambitious goal to raise bilateral commodity turnover to $40 billion by 2030.

With the current paces and dynamics of commodity turnover, we will definitely accomplish this task next year. I believe that the leaders of our countries will be pleased to adjust new instructions and assign us with more ambitious tasks, he said.

The Chinese diplomat also commented on the two visits of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to China in May and October. During the first visit, the leaders agreed on a visa-free travel. Year 2024 was declared the Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan in China. During the second visit, the sides agreed on cooperation in construction of the third railroad line between China and Kazakhstan. The heads of state also discussed the Trans-Caspian International Logistics Transport Corridor and signed an intergovernmental agreement.

These two visits are of great importance. They hugely contributed to the strengthening of mutual trust, mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries. As part of these visits, the enterprises entered into contracts worth more than $38 billion, Zhang Xiao noted.

The Chinese ambassador emphasized that Kazakhstan is not only a neighboring country for China, but also a good friend and a reliable partner.

He reminded of several meetings of the heads of state. In September 2022, Xi Jinping paid his first foreign visit after the coronavirus pandemic to Kazakhstan. This year, on his 70th jubilee, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Chinese city of Xi’an together with Xi Jinping.