Trade Exchange Between Kazakhstan and China Surpasses $43.8 Billion
In a recent meeting between Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chinese Ambassador Han Chunlin, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties in various sectors. The meeting highlighted ongoing and future joint projects that demonstrate a strategic partnership focused on economic integration, foreign investment, and job creation.
The growth of bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and China was 9% in 2024, reaching $43.8 billion. This trade expansion is a testament to the strong economic relationship between the two nations.
One of the key focus areas of the meeting was the integration of additional Kazakh companies into China's registry of exporters. The officials specifically focused on increasing shipments of Kazakh grain to China, a sector that has created 11,000 jobs in Kazakhstan.
China's investments in Kazakhstan have surpassed $26 billion, with 5,000 enterprises involving Chinese capital operating in Kazakhstan. Currently, 224 industrial projects worth $66.4 billion are underway, expected to create around 50,000 new jobs. Kazakhstan aims to attract at least $150 billion in foreign investment by 2029, with China playing a central role.
The sectors of cooperation between the two nations are vast and diverse. Energy remains the largest sector of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments, accounting for 35% of activity. Both countries plan to broaden energy cooperation further, including expanding partnerships in the entire industrial chain related to energy.
Recent agreements cover expanding manufacturing and healthcare cooperation. Agriculture and tourism are among the focus areas mentioned in broader cooperation proposals during the Central Asia-China summits. While not detailed in current agreements, these sectors are expected to benefit from enhanced connectivity and investment. The two nations are also exploring innovative cooperation in artificial intelligence and the digital economy to inject new momentum into development.
There is emphasis on strengthening connectivity through accelerating cross-border infrastructure projects to facilitate trade and transit. Cargo volumes between Kazakhstan and China in the transport sector increased by 13% in 11 months of 2024, totaling 29.3 million tons.
The meeting also reiterated mutual commitment to deepening ties in agriculture, tourism, and cultural exchange. Agreements include efforts to build a shared future through cultural exchange and security cooperation against terrorism, extremism, and separatism to ensure a stable environment for cooperation.
At the June 2025 China-Central Asia Summit, Kazakhstan and China signed 58 new agreements worth $25 billion, reflecting robust engagement in diverse sectors. Kazakhstan was the largest recipient of Belt and Road investments in the first half of 2025, with about $23 billion invested, notably in energy, metals and mining, and technology sectors.
Plans for 222 projects exceed $60.5 billion in both countries. So far, a total of 62 joint projects worth $8.7 billion have been completed between Kazakhstan and China. China is among the top five investment partners of Kazakhstan.
The ongoing and planned joint projects between Kazakhstan and China demonstrate a strategic partnership focused on deepening economic integration, increasing foreign investment and job creation, and expanding cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors such as energy and digital technologies.
In the context of the ongoing strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China, both nations are focusing on integrating additional Kazakh companies into China's registry of exporters, with a specific aim to increase shipments of Kazakh grain to China, boosting the job market within Kazakhstan. The sector of agriculture, alongside tourism and cultural exchange, is one of the focus areas for deepening ties, creating opportunities for further job creation and foreign investment. Moving forward, Kazakhstan aims to attract at least $150 billion in foreign investment by 2029, with China playing a central role in this ambition. Furthermore, the two countries are exploring innovative cooperation in artificial intelligence and the digital economy to build a shared future and inject new momentum into their development.
