The day before, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov met with Ambassador of China to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao. According to the website of the head of government, they discussed cooperation in the areas of trade, attracting investments, industry, energy, agriculture, transport and logistics, digital technologies, the use of transboundary rivers, etc.
Smailov noted that China is one of the largest trade partners of Kazakhstan, which accounts for 18% of the total trade turnover, and is in the TOP-5 countries-investors in the Kazakh economy. At the same time, the government is ready to work actively to increase mutual trade to $35 billion by 2030.
“Our countries have significant potential in the supply of agricultural products. Kazakh enterprises would like to further increase the export of food products to China. In this regard, the further removal of trade barriers and restrictions is of great importance,” he said.
In turn, Zhang Xiao expressed the Chinese side’s interest in importing agricultural products from Kazakhstan, increasing the volume of rail transportation, strengthening interregional cooperation and partnership in the IT sector.
“We believe that there is great potential for bringing our economic relations to a qualitatively new level. We need to set new, more ambitious goals,” the ambassador said.
During the meeting, the head of the government of Kazakhstan and the Ambassador of China also discussed the resumption of work of the Khorgos ICBC, the opening of the third railway crossing near the Bakhty-Pokitu automobile checkpoint, the development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, the construction of major highways and the creation of new industries in mechanical engineering .
Source: vlast