Closer China-Kazakhstan ties to bring more opportunities

China-Kazakhstan cooperation is enabling people in both countries to buy each other's products and to travel under a mutual visa-free arrangement, while opening a broader space for collaboration across multiple fields, an expert from Kazakhstan said.

According to Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev, more than 100 Kazakh companies participated in the recently concluded China International Import Expo, the largest delegation the country has ever sent.

Data from Kazakhstan's Trade Policy Development Center show that in recent years, the total value of contracts signed by the Kazakh side at the CIIE has reached $307 million.

This year, Kazakhstan is expected to sign long-term agreements to supply agricultural products and food to China. These figures point to robust momentum in bilateral trade.

Madina Nurgaliyeva, director of the Institute for Social Policy Studies of Kazakhstan's Amanat Party, said the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan is benefiting ordinary people.

Beyond trade figures, people-to-people ties are deepening under the mutual visa-free arrangement. "In summer, Chinese tourists can take the Xi'an-Almaty tourist charter train to visit, and people in Kazakhstan can also enjoy high-quality Tsingtao Beer," Nurgaliyeva said.

Chinese automobiles now hold a 23 percent market share in Kazakhstan and are highly popular among consumers, Nurgaliyeva told China Daily, adding that she herself is a loyal user of Chinese cars: 10 years ago, when there were only a few in Almaty, she bought one; two years ago, she purchased another for her daughter — vivid examples of friendly exchanges and practical cooperation taking root in daily life.

These tangible benefits were underscored at the second meeting of the China-Central Asia Political Parties Dialogue, cohosted by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Shandong Provincial Committee of the CPC on Nov 3.

The event, held in Qingdao under the theme "Advancing Common Modernization through High-Quality Development: Political Parties in Action," attracted around 150 Chinese and foreign participants, including leaders from more than 20 political parties from the five Central Asian countries and diplomats stationed in China.

Nurgaliyeva said it was her second visit to China.

As a member of the Kazakh delegation, she visited Beijing; and Qufu and Qingdao in Shandong province. After touring the Licun River remediation project in Licang district, Qingdao, she remarked: "In a short span of time, the Licun River has transformed from a foul-smelling ditch into a beautifully landscaped park — an astonishing change."

China's achievements in building an ecological civilization and in long-term strategic planning are admirable, she said, adding that Kazakhstan looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in these areas.

She also linked the Beautiful China initiative with the Clean Kazakhstan campaign, seeing a shared philosophy between them. "Cleanliness is not only about ecological development; it also encompasses purity of thought and codes of conduct. After visiting the Confucius Temple in Qufu, I found that these ideas are embedded in Confucian culture as well, which aligns with our values," she said.

Building on these observations, Nurgaliyeva summarized three defining features of China's development: first, the Chinese people are highly united; second, China values the inheritance of tradition and history while continuously innovating; and third, it excels at long-term strategic planning.

She made special mention of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which she believes confirms her impressions, adding that China has consistently prepared its plans with care and implemented them effectively, including initiatives such as Digital China and Beautiful China.

Looking ahead, she outlined several directions for deeper collaboration. She noted that Kazakhstan plans to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and that China's extensive experience offers opportunities for joint action.

She added that Kazakhstan is studying China's poverty-alleviation experience to advance its "debt-free society" project, and that the two countries have broad room for cooperation in this field.