Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended the opening ceremony of the VII China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. The goal of this annual multi-industry event is to strengthen economic integration on an international level. Participation in the expo creates new opportunities for expanding trade and economic ties with foreign partners and promoting national products in international markets.
The opening ceremony of the international exhibition was also attended by Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of Mongolia Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, and Prime Minister of Serbia Milos Vucevic.
As of last year, Kazakhstan accounted for more than half of China’s trade turnover with Central Asian countries.
In his speech, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in barrier-free trade, e-commerce, transport and logistics integration, and the implementation of innovative AI solutions.
Special attention was given to the project of creating a “Silk Road E-Commerce” pilot zone. Kazakhstan is already represented on major online platforms like Alibaba and JD.com, and is actively working on opening a pavilion on Douyin, developing bonded warehouses, and expanding logistics infrastructure to facilitate trade through digital channels. Today, Kazakhstan handles over 80% of overland transportation from China to Europe. Major projects such as the “Western Europe-Western China” international highway, the logistics center in the port of Lianyungang, the cargo terminal in the dry port of Xi’an, and the third railway checkpoint on the Chinese border are aimed at strengthening transcontinental trade corridors and increasing mutual trade turnover.
In terms of digitalization, Kazakhstan ranks 24th in the e-government development index, 10th in online services level, and 6th in the government technology maturity index, according to the World Bank. Exchanging experience with China in the field of AI could significantly accelerate economic development, Bektenov noted.
At the international expo, Kazakhstan’s national pavilion, themed “New Era, Shared Future,” showcased the country’s achievements in the digital field, including cross-border trade, electronic and financial services, and investment attraction. The Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev and representatives of key institutions such as Kazakh Invest, AIFC, and Kaspi.kz presented products and startups, including Squares (global booking system), Alaqan AI (biometric palm vein identification), and Cerebra AI (AI-assisted stroke diagnosis).
For the first time, Kazakhstan’s commercial pavilion introduced online sales of domestic products. On a 260 m² space, products from around 50 Kazakhstani manufacturers were displayed, including meat, dairy, grain, textiles, honey, and beverages. Live streaming through the TikTok platform allowed visitors from anywhere in the world to explore the product range and make online purchases. In just the first few hours of the exhibition, online sales reached approximately $22,000. This year, the pavilion has doubled in size, with over 80% of participants representing small and medium businesses, opening new opportunities for expanding exports to China.
Photo: UKIMET
