Beijing, September 10, 2024 – A roundtable discussion on the topic “Address to the People of Kazakhstan and the Prospects for Kazakh-Chinese Cooperation” was held at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in China.
The event was attended by the leaders and experts from the Center for Reform Development under the State Council of the PRC, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chinese Academy of International Issues, the Silk Road Research and Planning Center, the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, the Institute of International Studies of Renmin University of China, as well as representatives of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
In his speech, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to China, Shakhrat Nuryshev, provided the Chinese experts with a detailed overview of the key points of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s annual Address to the People of Kazakhstan and the trends in the development of bilateral cooperation.
Chinese experts noted that the Address to the People of Kazakhstan is a logical continuation of the ongoing reforms and aligns with the goals outlined in President Tokayev’s election platform. The Address is programmatic in nature, contains specific measures, and covers all spheres of Kazakh society. The Chinese analysts particularly emphasized that the Address places the people at the forefront, with all the country’s reforms aimed at improving their quality of life.
Li Yongquan, Director of the Eurasian Social Development Institute of the Centre for Reform Development under the State Council of the PRC, highlighted that China views Kazakhstan as a “middle power,” whose role is increasingly important for the region’s stability and development. Kazakhstan pursues an independent foreign policy and firmly maintains its sovereignty despite the complex international environment.
Liu Huaqin, Director of the Eurasian Institute of the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, drew attention to the specific measures in the Address aimed at improving the country’s investment climate, digitalizing the economy, and developing artificial intelligence. In this regard, the expert suggested updating the Agreement on Mutual Investment Protection between Kazakhstan and China.
According to Professor Xu Qinghua of the Institute of International Studies at Renmin University of China, the decision to hold a referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant reflects President Tokayev’s special approach to the issue of energy security and the future development of the country, based on the opinion of the people of Kazakhstan.
The roundtable participants exchanged views on current issues of political, trade, economic, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, as well as on strengthening further interaction within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, SCO, CICA, and the “Central Asia – China” format.
Source: Посольство КНР в РК
