China and Central Asian countries are bound by a common destiny, and China and Kazakhstan have always been good neighbors, good friends, reliable partners and brothers, bound by a common border. 31 years ago, since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan have been tested by changes in the international scene. Having continued their sustainable development, they have reached an unprecedented level in the history of comprehensive strategic partnership, becoming an example of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. This is related, firstly, to the strategic leadership of the heads of the countries, who have outlined a plan for the development of Sino-Kazakh relations in a new era. The leaders of China and Kazakhstan have developed good working relations and personal friendship, which have laid a solid political foundation for the development of bilateral relations and defined bright development prospects.
In February 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev again visited Beijing during the Winter Olympics. In September 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping made Kazakhstan the first stop of his first overseas tour after the epidemic, demonstrating the high level and specificity of China-Kazakhstan relations. During the visit, the heads of state signed and issued a “Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Kazakhstan.”
Second, a high degree of political mutual trust has laid a solid foundation for the development of China-Kazakh relations. The two countries firmly support each other on issues of key interests, in defense of sovereignty, security and development issues, and resolutely oppose the interference of external forces in the internal affairs of sovereign countries. China firmly supports Kazakhstan’s independent development path and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s package of measures to build a new Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan firmly supports the one-China principle and China’s position on major issues such as Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong. Following the “January events” in Kazakhstan in 2022, President Xi Jinping immediately sent a message to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev firmly supporting Kazakhstan to end chaos and maintain stability. In August 2022, in response to a visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry immediately came out in favor of China.
Third, the joint implementation of the One Belt, One Road initiative based on high-quality cooperation in various fields.
As the region where the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative was announced, as well as the first pilot region that participated in the implementation of the initiative, Kazakhstan occupies a special and important place in its joint implementation. China and Kazakhstan were the first to sign bilateral documents on cooperation in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, communications, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, education, science and technology, culture, etc. . ., becoming a model of success and a benchmark for high-quality joint implementation of the initiative. The countries have succeeded in forming a comprehensive three-dimensional cooperation structure by opening 7 mutually oriented cross-border checkpoints operating all year round, 5 cross-border oil and gas pipelines, two cross-border railways and an international center for cross-border cooperation. As of April 8 this year, 2,032 trains passed the Khorgos checkpoint on the China-Europe route (Central Asia section), the throughput of 2,000 trains was reached 10 days earlier than in 2022. In 2022 , the China-Kazakhstan trade turnover was about $31.2 billion, which accounted for about 45 percent of China’s total trade with the five Central Asian countries. A number of key cooperation projects have been successfully implemented, including Shymkent Oil Refinery, Almaty Photovoltaic Power Plant, North Kazakhstan Agro-Technology Park, East Kazakhstan Nuclear Components Plant , Kyzylorda Glass Plant and Kostanay Automobile Plant, which gave new impetus to Sino-Kazakhstan Bilateral Cooperation. China has opened five Confucius Institutes in Kazakhstan, more than 3,000 people study Chinese language and culture there every year. The two sides are accelerating work on the mutual establishment of general consulates in Xi’an and Aktobe, and the mutual agreement on visa-free regime signed between the two countries will greatly facilitate the movement of people from both countries. In March this year, a Chinese delegation from Xinjiang visited Kazakhstan on a friendship and exchange mission, opening a new chapter in regional bilateral cooperation and joint implementation of the One Belt and One Road initiative between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan.
Friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan have been tested by changes in the international scene
Fourth, the pragmatic and efficient nature of international interaction contributes to the creation of a more equitable and rational system of global governance. China and Kazakhstan maintain close ties of multilateral cooperation, jointly supporting the international system led by the United Nations. The parties oppose any form of unilateral approach, uphold the implementation of global development, global security and global civilization initiatives, achieve a genuine multilateral approach, promote universal human values and safeguard justice and justice. international equality. The countries maintain close cooperation within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CICA, and work together to create a closer community of common destiny for China and Central Asia.
In March this year, a Chinese delegation from Xinjiang visited Kazakhstan as part of a friendship mission.
Today, the world is undergoing unprecedented large-scale changes of centuries-old nature. Changes in the world, changes in time and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. All countries of the world must strengthen their unity, react together and create a closer community around a shared common future. The China-Central Asia Summit is being held at the right time. China and Kazakhstan are active supporters and participants of this mechanism, contributing significantly to its promotion. Our States, together with other countries in the region, will seize the opportunity of the holding of the Xi’an Summit to strengthen the strategic leadership and high-level diplomacy of Heads of State, adhere to the principles of mutual consultation and of joint implementation, improve the institution build and deepen the interface and contacts in the development of guiding principles, pragmatically and efficiently. promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, helping to promote friendship between the China and Central Asia to a new level for the benefit of the people of all countries. In the region.
As the poems of the great Li Bo say: “I caught the wind, cut the wave, my boat took off easily, then I swam through the blue sea, lifting my sail in the clouds.” I hope that the China-Central Asia Summit, taking ancient Xian as the starting point of a new path, can create an effective platform for friendship and cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, writing a new chapter in the annals of security, stability, development and prosperity in the region.
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