The environmental cooperation between China and Kazakhstan is gradually becoming a sustainable strategic initiative aimed at creating a balanced green development model in Central Asia. In the context of accelerating climate change and the global transition to sustainable development, this partnership is becoming strategically important as a tool for technological influence and regional leadership.
As a global leader in climate technology and the largest investor in green energy, China views the Central Asian region as a key area for expanding the green component of the Belt and Road Initiative[1]. In turn, Kazakhstan is consistently building a platform for green growth, focusing on the development of renewable energy, environmental standards, and sustainable logistics. These efforts aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and open up new opportunities for deepening environmental cooperation with China.
The development of the environmental partnership reflects a high level of mutual trust and confirms the parties’ readiness to deepen cooperation in priority areas. Against the backdrop of growing interest in ESG instruments and sustainable financing, Kazakhstan seeks to combine international reporting standards with China’s pragmatic approach based on infrastructure, technology, and competence transfer.
Such a partnership model demonstrates an effective combination of strategic approaches and opens up long-term prospects for both bilateral cooperation and strengthening the environmental sustainability of the entire region. In 2018, Kazakhstan joined the international coalition for green development initiated by China with the support of UNEP and several international institutions through the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (RECCA). This step has become an important channel for the country’s involvement in sustainable financing, climate monitoring, and the exchange of green technologies[2].
Regional institutions such as the IWMI, CAREC, and specialized centers at the AIFC are playing an increasingly important role, acting not only as project platforms but also as facilitators of climate diplomacy and the soft power of Kazakhstan and China. In this context, cooperation in the field of environmental sustainability reached a new level in 2025, with the signing of a strategic agreement between the MCZTIIP and the China-Eurasia Business Council (CEBC) at the investment B2B forum in May, which provides for the development of pilot solutions and support for green startups in Kazakhstan, including the BREED/LEED eco-villages project and the implementation of the OzenM digital monitoring platform for hydroposts with the participation of Chinese investors[3].
Joint development of renewable energy sources
Cooperation in the field of renewable energy remains a key area for implementing an environmental partnership. According to experts, the combined technical potential of wind and solar generation in Kazakhstan is about 920 billion kWh per year, which requires technological support, large-scale financing, and sustainable project solutions[4]. Against this backdrop, the participation of Chinese companies has become a key driver of growth in the renewable energy sector in Kazakhstan, with their involvement in the construction of major projects such as the Moinak hydroelectric power plant, the Zhanatas and Shelek wind farms, and the planned launch of two new projects, the Khromtau and Arkalyk wind farms[5]. It is noteworthy that in 2024, Chinese companies signed agreements to implement seven new projects with a total capacity of 2.6 GW in partnership with Samruk-Energy, which accounts for approximately 24% of the total target capacity of renewable energy projects (11 GW) in Kazakhstan by 2035[6].
In addition, the Chinese side consistently participates in the transfer of equipment, engineering solutions, and operational practices. Kazakhstani solar power plants already use technologies from leading Chinese manufacturers (Jinko, Longi, Risen), and the Sany company is implementing a project in the Zhambyl region to build a factory for wind turbine components. Additionally, Envision Energy is involved in a project in the Khorgos border zone to build a factory for wind turbines and energy storage systems, which is scheduled to launch in 2026[7]. At the same time, these initiatives contribute to the growth of clean energy generation, employment, and industrial transformation.
The focus of the Chinese-Kazakh partnership in the field of renewable energy on ESG principles is becoming increasingly noticeable. Participating companies are integrating green approaches into financing, design, and operation, including the use of GRI, ICMA, and IFC standards, which increases the attractiveness of projects for international funds.
A new growth point for the partnership has been hydrogen energy, which has opened up opportunities for deepening technological integration. The signing in March 2025 of a Memorandum between the National Nuclear Energy Center of Kazakhstan, China Energy Overseas, and Jiaotong University marked the launch of joint projects, including hydrogen production and solid-state storage, personnel training, and the establishment of a joint research laboratory, reflecting the parties’ commitment to harnessing the potential of decarbonization and technological exchange.
At the same time, the digitalization of energy infrastructure is being promoted, and the joint renewable energy forum has become an important step in strengthening cooperation between countries. As a result, memoranda were signed between CPID and KEGOC on joint research on BESS systems, as well as between KazNTU and China Energy Investment on training specialists in the field of renewable energy[8]. This means that Chinese investments are not only providing financial support, but also facilitating full-fledged technology transfer, promoting regional sustainability, and fostering scientific and technological integration.
Expanding environmental infrastructure and green logistics
The transition to environmentally sustainable forms of logistics is becoming an integral part of the China-Kazakhstan partnership in the context of global climate regulation and requirements for the carbon footprint of trade operations. Kazakhstan, with its strategic transit position in the Eurasian region, is actively implementing green standards in its transportation and storage infrastructure. These solutions are most consistently implemented in the Khorgos-Eastern Gate Free Economic Zone and along the China-Caspian-Europe land-sea route, where solar power systems, electric forklifts, and climate-neutral logistics facilities are used to create sustainable and certified logistics routes that meet international standards such as ISO 14001, LEED, and BREEAM, making them more attractive to investors.
The institutional development of cooperation enhances the applied effect of green logistics, where a significant event was the Kazakhstan-China forum “The Golden Bridge of Green Development on the Silk Road” held in Beijing in 2024[9], following which a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the International Center for Green Technologies and Investment Projects of Kazakhstan (ICGTIP) and the Chinese Center for Technology Transfer of the SCO[10]. At the same time, the forum demonstrated the parties’ readiness to move from coordinating positions to implementing projects within the framework of the Green Silk Road.
In parallel, the direction of accelerated green corridors is developing, designed to supply Kazakhstani environmentally friendly agricultural products to the Chinese market. As part of the agreements reached, in 2024, the parties announced the introduction of RFID tags (green seals) and unified border procedures[11]. This model is integrated into the overall ecosystem of cross-border trade, which is in line with the principles of a climate-neutral economy.
Risks and future directions of development
Despite the strategic nature of the partnership and the wide range of agreements reached, bilateral environmental cooperation faces a number of challenges. One of these challenges is the asymmetry in institutional approaches to environmental assessment, the differences in environmental impact assessment procedures, and the fragmented regulatory framework in certain sectors, which requires the development of harmonized methodologies and the recognition of sustainability standards. This is particularly relevant for cross-border projects that affect water, soil, and climate systems.
The increasing geoeconomic rivalry for influence on the climate agenda in the region, where China and the European Union are forming parallel and sometimes competing models of interaction, adds an additional layer of complexity. For Kazakhstan, this means the need to build a balanced but strategically autonomous model of sustainable development.
In these circumstances, China’s proactive role as a regional environmental solution-maker, capable of setting standards and mechanisms for sustainable cross-border cooperation, becomes particularly important. The partnership’s priority areas include initiating joint green projects in Central Asian countries, developing digital climate monitoring platforms, and training ESG professionals. These measures will enhance foreign economic resilience, increase institutional trust, and create economies of scale, transforming the China-Kazakhstan partnership into a pivotal axis for sustainable development in Eurasia.
The environmental cooperation between China and Kazakhstan is becoming a key pillar of Eurasian sustainability, aligning with the strategic priorities of both countries. In the context of the global climate crisis and the growing pressure of international climate policy, this cooperation is emerging as a potential model for sustainable development in Central Asia.
Thus, the Chinese-Kazakh model of environmental partnership serves as a reliable guide for sustainable growth, harmoniously combining technological leadership with climate responsibility. This partnership already serves as a foundation for deepening strategic dialogue and expanding environmental cooperation in the interests of the entire region.
China Studies Center
[1] “绿色”成为中国中亚能源合作新底色 // 新华社 – 2024. – URL: https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/0BRKVJEJ.html
[2] CAREC joined the International Coalition for Green Development of the Belt and Road Initiative // CAREC. – 2018. – URL: https://carececo.org/main/news/green-belt-and-road/
[3] A strategic agreement was signed in Shenzhen to attract Chinese investment in Kazakhstan’s green projects // Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan. – 2025. – URL: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/994416
Kazakhstan and China in the field of renewable energy sources [4] // Silk Road Today. – 2024. – URL: https://silk-road-today.kz/news/2138-kazahstan-i-kitay-v-oblasti-vozobnovlyaemyh-istochnikov-energii.html
[5] Kazakhstan and Power China Chengdu Expand Partnership in Energy and Irrigation // DKNews. – 2024. – URL: https://dknews.kz/ru/ekonomika/361479-kazahstan-i-power-china-chengdu-rasshiryayut
Chinese companies sign deals to develop 2.6 GW of renewables in Kazakhstan [6] // Enerdata. – 2024. – URL: https://www.enerdata.net/publications/daily-energy-news/chinese-companies-sign-deals-develop-26-gw-renewables-kazakhstan.html
[7] International forum in Astana calls for multilateral collaboration, with China recognized as a key partner in various fields // Global Times. – 2025. – URL: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1335169.shtml
[8] Conference on Renewable Energy and Science: Kazakhstan and China Discuss Cooperation Prospects / DKNews. – 2023. – URL: https://dknews.kz/ru/shelkovyy-put/300905-konferenciya-po-vie-i-nauke-kazahstan-i-kitay
[9] Beijing hosts the Kazakhstan-China International Forum on Green Development // IGTPIC. – 2024. – URL: https://igtipc.org/2024/09/14/6530/
[10] Kazakhstan and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding for joint projects in the field of green technologies // MTI of the Republic of Kazakhstan. – 2024. – URL: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/846536?lang=ru
[11] China wants to create a “green corridor” for Kazakhstani agricultural products // Inbusiness.kz. – 2024. – URL: https://inbusiness.kz/ru/last/kitaj-hochet-sozdat-zelenyj-koridor-dlya-kazahstanskoj-selhozprodukcii
