ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 17. Russia and China are considering a new route for gas supplies through Kazakhstan, Trend reports.
On November 13-15, 2024, the second Russian-Chinese Forum took place in Kazan, Tatarstan. The forum, which serves as a unique platform for strengthening and developing trade and economic ties between Russia and China, brought together representatives of federal ministries and heads of provincial governments from China.
The forum featured a special speech by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. In his address, he mentioned that discussions are currently underway with Chinese counterparts about a new gas supply route through Kazakhstan, with a potential capacity of up to 35 billion cubic meters of gas.
Kazakhstan’s import of Russian gas has doubled in the first eight months of this year, reaching an all-time high in the history of trade between the two countries. From January through August 2024, Kazakhstan imported $353.4 million worth of natural gas from Russia, more than twice the amount imported during the same period last year.
Kazakhstan occupies a key geographical position in transit and economic relations. For example, China views the country as a crucial link in the future Eurasian transcontinental transit route. Kazakhstan also plays a leading role in the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
From 2013 to 2020, as part of the One Belt One Road initiative, China invested approximately $18.5 billion in Kazakhstan, of which $3.8 billion were directed to the transportation sector. According to some sources, investments in Kazakhstan amounted to over $70 billion, or about 80 percent of all Chinese investments in the region. As predicted by the World Bank, at the current growth rate, the One Belt One Road project could increase Kazakhstan's GDP by 21 percent.
