In an exclusive interview with DKnews.kz, Zhang Xiao, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan, discussed the main outcomes of the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the prospects of Sino-Kazakh trade and economic cooperation, and China's role in strengthening an open world economy.
Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for agreeing to this interview. On November 10, the 7th China International Import Expo successfully concluded in Shanghai. Could you briefly tell us about this year's Expo?
From November 5 to 10, the 7th China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum were successfully held in Shanghai. Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Qiang, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Approximately 1,500 representatives were present at the opening ceremony, including Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and high-ranking officials from many countries, as well as leaders from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations, and representatives from political, business, and academic circles.
The 7th CIIE was grand in scale and achieved fruitful results. A total of 77 countries and international organizations participated in the national exhibition, with enterprises from 129 countries and regions taking part. Notably, 186 enterprises and institutions have participated in all seven Expos consecutively. This year's Expo saw the participation of 297 Fortune 500 companies and leading industry enterprises, setting a new record. The intended transaction volume at the CIIE reached $80.01 billion USD, a 2.0% increase over the previous session.
Hosting the CIIE is an important decision by China to promote a new round of high-level openness to the world. It is also a significant measure for China to open its market to the global community. As the world's first import-themed national-level exhibition, the CIIE has been held annually since 2018 without interruption, continually upgrading and expanding. It has become a window for China to build a new development model, a platform to promote high-level openness, and an international public good shared by the world.
Global Look Press
In his keynote speech, Premier Li Qiang emphasized that openness to the world is a fundamental national policy of China. Faced with the rise of anti-globalization sentiments and increasing unilateralism and protectionism, China should adhere even more to expanding and improving policies of external openness. China is willing to continue working with all parties to build an open world economy.
Foreign leaders and heads of international organizations stated in their speeches that the CIIE has become an important international platform for trade development, investment, and promoting open cooperation, fully demonstrating China's openness, inclusiveness, and responsibility as a major country. All parties are optimistic about China's economic prospects and development, and are willing to promote the joint construction of the "Belt and Road," expand cooperation in economy, trade, connectivity, green development, and other areas, support free trade, and contribute to equality, progress, and sustainable development worldwide.
This year marks the seventh consecutive China International Import Expo. In your opinion, Mr. Ambassador, what are the main highlights of this year's CIIE?
Since its inaugural event in 2018, the CIIE has continued to serve as a platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange, and open cooperation. Over the first six Expos, nearly 2,500 new products, technologies, and services were showcased, with a cumulative intended transaction volume exceeding $420 billion USD.
Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's important directive to "make the CIIE better and better," the 7th China International Import Expo achieved its set goals and became a global trade and economic event characterized by openness, diverse activities, and fruitful cooperation outcomes.
Firstly, the "circle of friends" continues to expand, and the scale of the exhibition is being renewed and developed. For the first time, countries like Norway, Burundi, Madagascar, and others, as well as UNICEF, participated in the exhibition. The corporate exhibition maintained a scale of 360,000 square meters. The exhibition area for cultural exchange activities exceeded 32,000 square meters, the largest in history. This year, the CIIE also organized 780 trade groups for procurement, the highest number ever.
Secondly, there was a rich diversity of new products, and for the first time, a special zone for new materials was established. Exhibiting companies introduced 450 new products, technologies, and services at the Expo for the first time, including over 100 global premieres, 40 Asian premieres, and more than 200 China premieres. For the first time, a special zone for new materials was set up in the technical equipment exhibition area, covering high value-added products such as electronic materials, biological materials, and special materials.
Thirdly, the Expo emphasized openness and universal access to the development fruits of the Chinese market. China has become the largest market in the world. This year, the CIIE provided over 120 free booths to 37 least developed countries and expanded the special zone for African goods to support more African products entering the Chinese market. Openness is the core concept of the CIIE. China views the Expo as an opportunity to allow the world to share its vast market.
Additionally, the Hongqiao International Economic Forum was held simultaneously. In addition to the main forum, 19 sub-forums were conducted, where experts, scholars, and industry leaders from around the world offered advice and suggestions on new areas such as artificial intelligence, new energy storage, and new energy vehicles.
CIIE
During the CIIE, the Xinjiang trade delegation organized a total of 270 companies to participate, providing an effective business cooperation platform for Central Asian countries and Xinjiang companies to seek business opportunities and promote the joint construction of the "Belt and Road."
Kazakhstan is a close neighbor of China and a longstanding friend of the China International Import Expo. Since 2018, Kazakhstan has actively participated in the CIIE, and this year, Prime Minister Olzhas Abayevich Bektenov also attended the opening ceremony. Could you tell us about Kazakhstan's participation in this year's Expo, Mr. Ambassador?
As you've mentioned, Kazakhstan has participated in all seven China International Import Expos without missing a single one. It is a staunch supporter and participant of the Expo. Particularly this year, the Kazakh delegation's participation in the 7th CIIE was at a high level, large in scale, and achieved fruitful results. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He highly praised the important role of the CIIE in developing international cooperation and trade, noting that Kazakhstan will actively deepen e-commerce, digital economy, cross-border logistics, artificial intelligence, as well as international cooperation in intelligence, finance, and other fields.
Prime Minister Bektenov met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the agreements between the two countries' leaders, continue promoting the high-quality construction of the "Belt and Road," and further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in economy and trade, investment in production capacity, energy, minerals, culture, and education. They also committed to jointly safeguarding economic globalization and free trade. Following their meeting, the prime ministers witnessed the signing of relevant cooperation documents. During his working visit to China, Prime Minister Bektenov participated in the Kazakhstan-China Investment Roundtable with business representatives and signed several cooperation agreements totaling $2.5 billion USD, covering industries such as metallurgy, energy, and automobile manufacturing.
During the CIIE, Kazakhstan successfully showcased to the world its image of open and dynamic national development, creating significant business opportunities. Kazakhstan's national pavilion was dedicated to the theme of digitalization, presenting Kazakh e-commerce, cross-border finance, investment opportunities, cultural tourism, and other rich content. High-tech products, including advanced medical diagnostics and artificial intelligence technologies, were also displayed, garnering widespread attention.
More than 50 companies from Kazakhstan participated in the exhibition. The size of their booth doubled compared to previous years. Over 50 high-quality products were showcased and sold live, including meat, dairy products, grains, honey, textiles, and beverages, which were also sold on e-commerce platforms like TikTok, warmly received by consumers.
Kazakhstan is an old friend of the China International Import Expo and has provided strong support to China in hosting the event. The CIIE certainly lives up to the trust of Kazakh friends. It has always provided Kazakhstan with opportunities and will continue to offer a valuable platform to showcase its national image and help Kazakh companies seek business opportunities.
China and Kazakhstan are cooperating to create a new "Golden Thirty Years" of bilateral relations, and cooperation between the two countries in various fields continues to develop. What is the significance of Sino-Kazakh trade and economic cooperation for the development of bilateral relations, Mr. Ambassador? How do you assess the current state of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries?
Since establishing diplomatic relations 32 years ago, Sino-Kazakh relations have continued to develop rapidly, reaching the highest level in history as an eternal comprehensive strategic partnership, setting an example of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation in the world. In July this year, President Xi Jinping made a successful state visit to Kazakhstan and attended the Astana Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, outlining a new blueprint for the development of Sino-Kazakh relations and cooperation in various fields.
Economic and trade cooperation is a crucial part of Sino-Kazakh relations and provides sustainable momentum for the steady and high-level development of bilateral relations. The economies of China and Kazakhstan are highly complementary and have unique advantages in economic and trade cooperation. Both sides fully utilize the coordinating role of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee, especially the Subcommittee on Sino-Kazakh Economic and Trade Cooperation, continue to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and coordination of economic policies, actively promote high-quality cooperation and development in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road," and will continue to promote the joint development of both countries. The improvement and upgrading of economic and trade cooperation will bring tangible benefits to the peoples and enterprises of both nations.
Currently, China has become Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and an important source of investment. Trade between the two sides covers various fields, from energy and agricultural products to automobiles and electronic products. According to Chinese customs statistics, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan reached a record $41 billion USD in 2023, an increase of 32% year-on-year. From January to September 2024, the total import and export volume of goods between China and Kazakhstan amounted to $33 billion USD, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Kazakhstan holds a special and important position in China's foreign trade. It is China's largest trading partner in Central Asia, and China's trade volume with Kazakhstan exceeds the combined trade volumes with the other four Central Asian countries.
At the Horgos road border crossing on the China-Kazakhstan border, refrigerated trucks use a "green corridor" for rapid customs clearance of agricultural products, reducing the customs clearance and exit time of goods from several days to one hour. Chinese consumers can purchase nuts, dry camel milk, safflower oil, and other Kazakh delicacies through e-commerce platforms without leaving their homes. The Kazakh terminal in Xi'an has become a trade and logistics distribution center for both countries, helping Kazakh products enter Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries.
According to Chinese statistics, one year after the mutual visa-free policy between China and Kazakhstan came into effect, more than 1.929 million people traveled between the two countries through Xinjiang's ports, a 129.18% increase over the previous year. The "Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan" in China in 2024 was successfully held, and next year, the "Year of Tourism of China" will be held in Kazakhstan. China and Kazakhstan continue to take measures to promote personnel exchanges, cultural exchanges, and other activities, continually injecting new impetus into the development of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, benefiting more enterprises and peoples of both nations.
