On November 9, 2022, the presentation of the anniversary book dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China "Kazakhstan-China: three decades of good-neighbourly and mutually beneficial cooperation" was held in Astana, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
The event was organized by the Center for Chinese Studies in partnership with the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and the Kazakh Ablai khan University of International Relations and World Languages, CNPC International in Kazakhstan with the support of the Embassy of the RK in the PRC and the Embassy of the PRC in the RK.
The event was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People's Republic of China Shakhrat Nuryshev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao, representatives of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, L.N. Gumilyov ENU, Kazakh Ablai khan UIR&WL, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and China, analytical structures, as well as the teaching staff of Kazakhstani universities.
The book was born as a result of close and productive creative cooperation between the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the PRC and the Embassy of the PRC in Kazakhstan with the assistance of the Center for Chinese Studies.
A feature of the publication is that it consists of three blocks in Kazakh, Russian and Chinese. At the same time, most of the presented official documents have been translated into the state language for the first time.
Opening the presentation, the meeting moderator Director of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Temirbolat noted:
“This year marks 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China. During this time, our relations have reached a high level of trust and a true strategic partnership. Today, our states are entering a new era of their development, where, as President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev has said, the next “golden 30th anniversary” of cooperation between our people awaits us. The book, published for the anniversary date, provides an analytical review of bilateral relations for the period 1992-2022. Based on archival materials from the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the newspaper "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda", it contains unique reference data, the most important documents, rare photographs, as well as a list of key agreements and treaties adopted over the past 30 years. I am confident that the publication will take its rightful place among the scientific literature on international politics” Bakytzhan Temirbolat
"This book contains a previously unpublished complete list of documents signed by both parties, as well as the texts of key strategic documents. The history of mutual visits at the level of heads of state over the past 30 years, interesting for the public and researchers of bilateral relations, information about various mechanisms aimed at developing the current eternal all-round strategic partnership between the Republic of Kazakhstan and China is presented. China is one of the largest trading partners of our country. In 2021, bilateral trade reached $18.2 billion. According to statistics, for 8 months of the current year this indicator increased by 26% and amounted to 15.4 billion US dollars. That is, it is highly likely that by the end of the year bilateral trade will reach a new high level" Shakhrat Nuryshev, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People's Republic of China
"The idea of this book was born a few years ago, it was a great and titanic work. The past decades have been filled with important and striking events of historical significance. On January 3, 1992, a joint communique was signed on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China, on April 26, 1994, the Agreement on the Kazakh-Chinese state border, on July 4, 2005, the Joint Declaration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and China on the establishment and development of strategic partnership was signed, on September 7, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the One Belt, One Road global initiative, and finally, on September 14 this year, it was to Astana that the Chinese President made his first foreign visit after a two-year pause. This marked the beginning of a new golden 30th anniversary of bilateral relations" Zhang Xiao, head of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan
The book is intended for diplomats, specialists and students in the field of international relations, oriental studies and all those who are interested in the modern foreign policy of Kazakhstan and the development of Kazakh-Chinese relations.
Timur Shaimergenov, representative of the book's authors:
"The presented anniversary edition itself is a reflection of the mutually beneficial cooperation of our states and peoples for 30 years. The sections of the book show with real examples that the two neighboring states perceive each other as reliable partners, a source of profitable opportunities and working together to achieve even greater results. At present, mutually beneficial relations between Kazakhstan and China have confidently entered the fourth decade and are developing diversified, consistently striving for a new historical height" Timur Shaimergenov
“I remember how a year ago our Kazakh experts contacted me and asked for access to the archives of the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper. Our publication always pays great attention to information coverage of all foreign policy events in Kazakhstan. It is no coincidence, therefore, that when materials about long-forgotten days of thirty years ago were needed, newspaper archives really became a reliable source of facts, figures, names and stories. Today we see the result of this great creative and research work, which was jointly carried out by Kazakh and Chinese specialists, practicing diplomats. Previously, I had the opportunity to repeatedly work as a special correspondent for the newspaper "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda" in Beijing, to cover the official visits of the leadership of our country to China. And I, as the author of publications, am really doubly pleased that these materials were not lost in the archive and were used in the preparation of this book. I wish the team of authors new achievements and success! I am sure that there will be new interesting creative projects ahead. The editorial staff of our newspaper is ready for fruitful cooperation” Vladimir Kuryatov, First Deputy General Director of the LLP "RN "Egemen Qazaqstan"
At the end of the event, a ceremony was held to transfer copies of the publication to the fund of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China about 200 documents relating to cooperation in the political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, scientific, educational and humanitarian spheres have been signed.
In particular, 10 documents were signed during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan in September this year.
In addition to the joint statement of the heads of state, protocols were signed in the field of agro-industrial complex between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Main Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China: on inspection, quarantine and veterinary and sanitary requirements for dairy products, flax and wool raw materials exported from Kazakhstan to China. A technical specification for the exchange of preliminary information on goods and vehicles transported across the customs borders of the two countries has also been signed. Agreements were signed between the governments on cooperation in the field of aviation search and rescue of civil aircraft and on the project of providing a Chinese supercomputer to the Kazakh side.
Memorandums were signed: on the implementation of the Cooperation Plan for the integration of the New Economic Policy "Nurly Zhol" and the construction of the "Silk Road Economic Belt"; Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China; Memorandum between the Kazakh Ministry of Finance and the General Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China on strengthening cooperation in the field of cross-border protection of intellectual property rights.
Kazakhstan and China were among the first to develop international cooperation in the field of industrialization, setting an example of interaction within the framework of the One Belt, One Road program, thereby bringing bilateral relations to the level of eternal comprehensive strategic partnership, which has no analogues in Chinese diplomacy.
Recall that for seven months of 2022, China ranks first (excluding the EAEU member states) in trade with Kazakhstan.
China's share in foreign trade turnover was 22.6%. The total volume of trade turnover reached $13.5 billion. The volume of trade turnover increased due to the growth of exports of Kazakhstani goods by 52%, increasing to $8 billion. Kazakhstan's imports from China are around $5.5 billion.
