In an exclusive article for DKnews.kz, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Han Chunlin, reflects on the accomplishments of 2024 and shares his vision for the future of strategic relations between China and Kazakhstan. The Ambassador highlights key achievements of the past year, including the deepening of political mutual trust, growth in economic and trade cooperation, successes in humanitarian engagement, and the strengthening of cultural ties. A special emphasis is placed on the role of the leaders of the two nations, whose efforts have shaped the direction of their enduring and comprehensive strategic partnership.
Han Chunlin discusses notable visits by heads of state, the signing of pivotal agreements, and the outcomes of joint efforts aimed at advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, boosting trade turnover, developing transport infrastructure, and enhancing interregional cooperation. The Ambassador also underscores the importance of cultural exchange and reveals plans for the "China Tourism Year" in Kazakhstan in 2025, marking another step in fostering friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Chinese Ambassador describes China and Kazakhstan as "companions on the path of modernization" and allies in ensuring regional stability, security, and prosperity. Han Chunlin expresses confidence that through mutual support, respect, and strategic collaboration, the two nations will continue to build a more dynamic and meaningful community with a shared future, based on friendship, cooperation, and a common aspiration for progress.
Building an Ever More Substantive and Dynamic China-Kazakhstan Community of Shared Destiny H.E. Mr. Han Chunlin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Kazakhstan
As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one, China and Kazakhstan celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Looking back on 2024, under the strategic guidance of our heads of state, China-Kazakhstan relations have reached new heights. Exchanges at all levels have grown closer, and the potential for cooperation across diverse fields continues to expand. This constant progress infuses new substance and dynamism into the China-Kazakhstan community of shared destiny, marked by everlasting friendship, deep mutual trust, solidarity, development, and prosperity.
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Under the strategic leadership of our heads of state, contacts between China and Kazakhstan at all levels have become even more frequent. President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China paid a successful state visit to Kazakhstan and participated in the SCO Summit in Astana. Meanwhile, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan visited China to attend the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia. During multiple rounds of talks, the two presidents conducted in-depth discussions on bilateral ties, cooperation in key areas, and the international and regional situation. They reached broad consensus and jointly signed the China-Kazakhstan Joint Statement, outlining a new blueprint for the countries’ permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. High-level Chinese officials such as Liu Guozhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, and Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also visited Kazakhstan. On the Kazakh side, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of the Mazhilis of Parliament Yerlan Koshanov, State Counselor Yerlan Karin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, and other officials traveled to China and took part in various events. The mechanisms for China-Kazakhstan interaction and cooperation at all levels are running effectively, continually injecting new momentum into our bilateral relations.
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China and Kazakhstan resolutely support each other on matters concerning their core interests, with political mutual trust between our two countries reaching an unprecedented high. Both sides continue to deepen this trust and firmly back each other on issues of major concern. The Joint Statement signed by our heads of state underscores China’s firm support for Kazakhstan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as the country’s chosen path of development and the necessary measures it undertakes to build a Fair Kazakhstan, maintain domestic stability, foster interethnic harmony, and promote socio-economic progress. For its part, Kazakhstan firmly supports the “One China” principle, opposes “Taiwan independence” in any form and any external interference, and reiterates that it will not establish official contacts with Taiwan under any circumstances, while backing every effort by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. China and Kazakhstan likewise stand united against politicizing human rights issues and applying double standards. Both countries demonstrate through concrete actions how states with different civilizations and social systems can find common ground, respect differences, and pursue development together.
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Economic and trade cooperation is thriving, and practical collaboration between our two countries is becoming ever more efficient. Jointly committed to building the Belt and Road Initiative with high quality, China and Kazakhstan continue to play a leading role. From January to November, bilateral trade reached USD 40.07 billion, an 8.7% increase year-on-year. China remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner. Operations have officially begun at the transport and logistics terminal in Xi’an, and over 10,000 China-Europe freight trains have passed through Kazakhstan—20 days ahead of the comparable milestone in 2023. Both nations are earnestly implementing the Roadmap on Trade and Economic Cooperation, deepening cooperation in conventional fields such as trade, investment, industrial capacity, connectivity, and energy. They are expanding cooperative industrial projects that deliver tangible outcomes and accelerating construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and a third China-Kazakhstan cross-border railway. In addition, the two sides are working together to develop new drivers of growth in key mineral resources, new energy, scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, e-commerce, the digital economy, and other fields. This will further upgrade practical cooperation and bring greater benefits to both peoples.
In the realm of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, numerous highlights have emerged, reinforcing the foundation of China-Kazakhstan friendship. A mutual visa-free policy between our countries has significantly eased travel. In the first ten months of 2024, over 550,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan—a 50% increase over 2023—while Kazakh visitors to China rose by 31%. The “Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan” in China was a success, making Kazakhstan a popular new destination for Chinese tourists. In 2025, Kazakhstan will host the “Year of Tourism of China.” The Chinese Consulate General in Aktobe opened on schedule. Both nations inaugurated cultural centers and launched a Kazakh branch of Beijing Language and Culture University, while a second “Luban Workshop” was established at the Eurasian National University. Numerous cooperation agreements have been signed in education, science and technology, culture, and regional partnerships. Both sides will broaden collaboration among think tanks as well as in cinema, television, and more. Local-level cooperation is broadening in both depth and scope, continually strengthening the social and popular support for our friendship.
Our two countries are also deepening collaboration in multilateral arenas, fostering stronger international cooperation. China and Kazakhstan jointly promote the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating for a fair and orderly multipolar system and inclusive economic globalization, and promoting universal values to advance a global community with a shared future. Both sides maintain close coordination within the UN, the SCO, the CICA, and the China+Central Asia framework to uphold genuine multilateralism, defend international justice, and guide global governance in a fair, rational direction. Together with other SCO member states, China supported Kazakhstan’s successful SCO chairmanship and helped achieve fruitful results at the Astana Summit. Now that China has assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO—focused on “The Year of SCO Sustainable Development”—it is earnestly putting into action the “Promote the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action” initiative, organizing more than 100 conferences and events, and striving for a friendly, cohesive, and productive SCO Summit. China welcomes Kazakhstan’s participation in BRICS as a partner country and supports Kazakhstan in hosting the second “China+Central Asia” Summit in 2025 to ensure its success.
Over the past year, Xinjiang has maximized its geographical advantages, accomplishing significant progress in its exchanges and cooperation with Kazakhstan. In March 2024, Chairman Erkin Tuniyaz of the People’s Government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region paid a successful visit to Kazakhstan. In June, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin attended the 8th China-Eurasia Expo. Successful events such as the 3rd China-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum and the 19th China Commodity Exhibition in Kazakhstan provided vital platforms for deepening Xinjiang-Kazakhstan ties and advancing pragmatic China-Kazakhstan cooperation. Between January and November 2024, Xinjiang’s trade with Kazakhstan reached USD 21.1 billion—53% of total China-Kazakhstan trade—marking a 16.5% year-on-year increase. Over the same period, Xinjiang received 291 million domestic and international tourists, with Kazakhstan ranking first among inbound visitors. Alignment of development strategies between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan is accelerating, adding new “golden content” to our permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Xi Jinping has emphasized that China and Kazakhstan are both at critical stages of development and rejuvenation, making us partners in the journey toward modernization. In July 2024, the Third Plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee was successfully convened, adopting systematic measures to deepen comprehensive reforms and advance Chinese-style modernization. The Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2024 highlighted China’s economy as broadly stable throughout the year, showing steady progress and continuous advancement in high-quality development. China’s economy stands on a solid foundation, with multiple advantages, strong resilience, and tremendous potential. The underlying conditions and upward trajectory for long-term growth remain intact. The conference set an economic agenda for 2025, sending a clear signal to the world that China will steadfastly pursue high-quality development and enhance high-level opening-up. Under President Tokayev’s leadership, Kazakhstan is likewise pressing ahead with political and economic reforms, exhibiting vigor and dynamism in its economic and social development. Its vision of a “Fair Kazakhstan” is becoming a reality at a remarkable pace. As friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers and sharing a common destiny, China and Kazakhstan are continually expanding cooperation in various fields. This unceasing progress in our permanent comprehensive strategic partnership serves the fundamental interests of both nations and their peoples.
Looking ahead to 2025, China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan, under the strategic guidance of our heads of state, to deepen political mutual trust, broaden exchanges at all levels, pursue mutually beneficial cooperation across all fields, and jointly foster an even more robust and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community of shared destiny. Together, we will also continue making a “China-Kazakhstan contribution” to safeguarding international and regional security, stability, development, and prosperity.
I sincerely wish China and Kazakhstan prosperity and wish our peoples happiness and well-being. May the friendship between our two nations endure forever!
