BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18. The volume of mutual trade between Kazakhstan and China reached a record level for 30 years - more than $31 billion in 2022, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trend reports via the press service of Akorda.
"Today, China is one of Kazakhstan's key trading partners. I believe that at this rate, in the near future, we'll be able to achieve the goal of bringing trade to $35 billion,” Tokayev noted. “Therefore, I propose to set a new target of $40 billion by 2030. To achieve this goal, we could expand the range of mutual trade. Kazakhstan is interested in expanding the export of agricultural products to China.”
“Last year alone, the volume of mutual trade in agricultural products amounted to more than $780 million. Kazakhstan is ready to supply legumes, high-quality environmentally friendly chilled beef, lamb," he also said.
As the President of Kazakhstan noted, the realization of the economic potential largely depends on the transit and transport sector.
"Here I would like to emphasize our productive cooperation within the framework of your unique Belt and Road initiative. The online launch of the construction of a logistics center in the Dry Port of Xi'an will be another growth point for our transport and logistics ties,” Tokayev said.
As part of the diversification of transport corridors, he proposed to actively use the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and positively assessed the growing interest of our countries in strengthening cooperation in the field of education and science.
“Taking into account the high quality of technical education in China, I would like to once again note our interest in opening a branch of one of China's major universities in Kazakhstan," the head of state added.
On May 17, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev left for a state visit to China. On the first day of his visit, which will end today, a number of documents that envisage cooperation in various fields, including energy, were signed.
