In a significant move to bolster their relationship, China and Kazakhstan held the second strategic dialogue between their foreign ministers in Almaty. Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, and his Kazakh counterpart, Murat Nurtleu, engaged in in-depth discussions aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
“China and Kazakhstan are not just neighbors; we’re genuine friends with an unbreakable bond,” Wang Yi emphasized. He highlighted the deep-rooted friendship and the ever-growing comprehensive strategic partnership under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Despite global challenges, bilateral trade between the two nations has reached new heights, with numerous projects in new energy and connectivity taking off. The mutual visa exemption has also paved the way for increased people-to-people exchanges, signaling a promising future for both countries.
Wang Yi expressed China’s commitment to work closely with Kazakhstan to implement agreements made by their leaders. “We aim to strengthen strategic mutual trust and build a high-quality Belt and Road Initiative together,” he stated.
Murat Nurtleu reciprocated the sentiment, expressing Kazakhstan’s appreciation for China’s proactive approach to neighborhood diplomacy. “China is a trustworthy and reliable good neighbor, good friend, and good partner,” he said. Nurtleu noted that their all-weather friendship remains strong, unaffected by geopolitical factors, and that China is now Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner.
The two ministers agreed to expand economic and trade cooperation, enhance energy collaboration, and explore innovative fields like artificial intelligence and the digital economy. They also pledged to jointly combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism to ensure regional security.
Both sides are committed to the success of upcoming events like the China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the second China-Central Asia Summit. They aim to promote cooperation within multilateral frameworks, support free trade, and uphold international fairness and justice.
At the conclusion of the talks, they signed several agreements, including a memorandum of understanding between their foreign ministries, marking a new chapter in China-Kazakhstan relations.
