ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 11. Kazakhstan has been granted an area in the Pilot Zone of Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation "China-SCO,” located in the Chinese city of Qingdao, Trend reports.
The provided area ranges from 250 to 600 square meters.
This agreement is one of the outcomes of the working trip of the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliev, to China, during which he held a meeting with the Governor of Shandong Province, Zhou Naiyang. The main topic of the negotiations was strengthening trade and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.
Governor Zhou Naiyang expressed readiness to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan. "Kazakhstan is our friendly neighbor. In the first quarter of this year, the export volume from Kazakhstan to Shandong reached 8 billion yuan, and 45 companies from the province have already invested in Kazakhstan's economy. I am confident that your visit will provide a new impetus for strengthening our relations," emphasized the governor.
Arman Shakkaliev, in turn, thanked for the warm reception and noted that China is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner. "The trade turnover between our countries has already reached $41 billion, and the leaders of both countries have set a goal to increase this figure to $80 billion. Shandong is of particular interest to us as a dynamically developing region," said the Minister. During the visit, the Kazakh delegation also visited several major companies in the province, such as Shandong Hi-Speed Group, Shandong Energy Group, G-WEIKE, Lingong Heavy Machinery, and Tsingtao. Issues related to Kazakhstan's agricultural product export received special attention. In particular, representatives of the Tsingtao Beer Group discussed the restoration of a brewery in Semey to promote products in the Central Asian and EAEU markets.
During a meeting with the Mayor of Jinan, Yu Haiten, discussions focused on the route of the high-speed railway and prospects for cooperation in industrial cooperation, green energy, and cultural and educational exchanges.
Shandong is one of China's most economically developed provinces, with a population of over 100 million. The automotive, electronics, petrochemical, and metallurgical industries, along with agriculture, which specializes in the cultivation of wheat, corn, and vegetables, drive the region's economy. Last year's bilateral trade volume between the countries reached a record $41 billion. China is Kazakhstan's main trading partner and the largest importer of Kazakhstani goods.