President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has outlined an ambitious new phase of economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, calling for deeper investment in transport, manufacturing, agriculture, critical minerals, digital technologies and finance. Speaking at the Kazakhstan-China Investment Forum in Almaty, Tokayev said the two countries should move beyond individual projects toward integrated production ecosystems capable of serving markets across Eurasia. The forum brought together around 600 participants, including representatives of roughly 300 Kazakh and Chinese companies, government agencies, national companies and financial institutions. Before the proceedings began, participants observed a minute of silence in memory of servicemen who lost their lives in the Mangystau Region.

Trade & Investment Ties Enter a New Phase

Tokayev described China as Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and said bilateral trade had reached nearly $50 billion. The two governments are now working toward an ambitious target of $100 billion. Chinese investment has also become an important part of Kazakhstan’s economic development. According to figures cited by the President at the forum, cumulative Chinese investment has exceeded $29 billion, while more than 9,000 enterprises with Chinese participation operate in the country. The partnership already extends across industry, agriculture, healthcare, education, digitalisation and advanced technologies. Kazakhstan has also been strengthening its investor-protection framework, including assigning the Prosecutor General the role of investment ombudsman and establishing the Investor Rights Protection Committee under the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Transport & Logistics Take Centre Stage

Transport connectivity was one of the central themes of Tokayev’s address. Kazakhstan is expanding railways, highways, ports, air cargo services and cross-border infrastructure as it seeks to strengthen its position between China and European markets. A network of logistics facilities stretching from Lianyungang to Aktau already links China’s Pacific coast with the Caspian Sea, while Kazakhstan continues to prioritise development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, widely known as the Middle Corridor. Tokayev said the number of container trains travelling from China toward Europe is expected to reach 3,000 by 2029. Kazakhstan is simultaneously advancing major railway projects, including the Moyynty–Kyzylzhar and Bakhty–Ayagoz lines, alongside broader plans to expand national rail capacity. Official plans also envisage thousands of kilometres of new and modernised railway infrastructure by the end of the decade. Digitalisation is becoming part of this logistics strategy through initiatives such as the Smart Border pilot project. Cooperation with Chinese companies is also exploring autonomous transport technologies and digitally managed freight corridors. Air connectivity is expanding as well, with new passenger routes strengthening links between Kazakh and Chinese cities and supporting growing business, tourism and investment exchanges.

kazakhstan-and-china-2.jpg

kazakhstan-and-china-3.jpg

kazakhstan-and-china-4.jpg

$62 Billion Industrial Project Portfolio

Industrial cooperation represents another major pillar of the partnership. Tokayev said Kazakhstan and China have assembled a portfolio of 260 major joint projects valued at more than $62 billion. Chinese participation is supporting projects in automotive manufacturing, metallurgy, petrochemicals, silicon production, energy storage and other industries. Kazakhstan is also looking to deepen cooperation in agriculture and food processing through projects involving companies such as Lihua Group and Fufeng Group. These developments build on an already expanding industrial relationship. During Tokayev’s visit to Shanghai in July, more than 70 commercial documents worth over $15 billion were signed in fields including artificial intelligence, digitalisation, transport infrastructure, finance, agriculture and manufacturing. Tokayev proposed a new Kazakhstan-China programme centred on products jointly designed and manufactured in the two countries. The initiative is intended to encourage integrated value chains and support joint access to markets in Central Asia, the Eurasian Economic Union, the South Caucasus and Europe.

kazakhstan-and-china-5.jpg

kazakhstan-and-china-6.jpg

Critical Minerals & Technology Cooperation

Kazakhstan is also seeking stronger Chinese participation in its mining and metallurgical industries. The country possesses substantial resources of uranium, copper, gold, coal, critical minerals and rare earth elements, creating opportunities for investment in processing and higher-value production. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence form another priority. Tokayev said Kazakhstan wants greater technology transfer, joint engineering facilities and research centres, alongside expanded training for specialists. Plans include establishing a Kazakhstan-China School of Artificial Intelligence in Astana. Alatau City is also being positioned as a major technology and business centre connecting Kazakhstan with China, Central Asia and European markets. Kazakhstan has already identified more than 50 investment projects worth around two trillion tenge for the development of Alatau.

kazakhstan-and-china-7.jpg

Building New Financial Links

Tokayev also highlighted opportunities to connect the Astana International Financial Centre more closely with Hong Kong and China’s financial system. He pointed to Samruk-Kazyna’s entry into China’s interbank bond market with panda bonds exceeding three billion yuan, equivalent to around $450 million. Kazakhstan and China are also moving to establish a joint investment fund designed to support promising projects and strengthen long-term investment cooperation. The forum itself produced agreements covering sectors including renewable energy, aluminium production, automotive manufacturing, chemicals, construction and finance. Among the projects announced were plans for an electrolytic aluminium plant and associated wind-power development in the Abai Region, as well as renewable-energy projects in the Akmola Region.

kazakhstan-and-china-8.jpg

kazakhstan-and-china-9.jpg

Almaty Investment Dialogue to Become Annual Platform

Tokayev proposed transforming the forum into a permanent mechanism for direct engagement between businesses from both countries. Under his proposal, the event would be held every September as the “Almaty Investment Dialogue: Kazakhstan-China.” The initiative reflects Kazakhstan’s broader effort to shift its economic relationship with China from trade and standalone investments toward long-term industrial, technological and financial cooperation. With trade approaching $50 billion, a $100 billion target on the agenda and billions of dollars in joint projects under development, Kazakhstan and China are positioning investment, connectivity and technology as central elements of the next stage of their economic partnership.

kazakhstan-and-china-10.jpg