As part of his working visit to Beijing, Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, held a meeting with Lu Jie, founder of Guodong Network Communication Group, one of China’s leading telecommunications infrastructure companies. The talks marked another important step in strengthening Kazakhstan–China cooperation in the digital and telecommunications sectors, DKNews.kz reports.
During the meeting, the parties discussed potential areas of cooperation between Guodong Network Communication Group and Kazakhtelecom JSC, a portfolio company of Samruk-Kazyna. Particular attention was paid to prospects for joint work in telecommunications, the development of digital infrastructure, and the expansion of modern communication networks.
Why this meeting matters
Today, telecommunications infrastructure has become the backbone of modern economies. Mobile communications, data transmission, digital services, smart city technologies, and artificial intelligence platforms all depend on reliable and scalable networks. In this context, potential cooperation with Guodong Network Communication Group carries strategic importance for Kazakhstan.
The country is actively pursuing a digital transformation agenda aimed at improving connectivity, modernizing infrastructure, and increasing access to advanced digital services. Partnering with a company that has extensive international experience and large-scale infrastructure capabilities could significantly accelerate these goals.
Guodong: a global-scale player
Guodong Network Communication Group is one of China’s major companies specializing in the development of telecommunications and digital networks, as well as infrastructure solutions for the communications sector. The company operates more than 50,000 telecommunications towers, placing it eighth globally by number of towers and fourth among independent tower operators worldwide.
Such scale makes Guodong a key player in ensuring stable, high-quality communications, particularly in rapidly growing markets where demand for data and network coverage continues to rise.
Guodong’s rapid growth and innovative potential have also been recognized domestically. The company was named a “unicorn enterprise” in China’s Jiangsu Province in both 2024 and 2025, a designation reserved for high-growth, technology-driven companies with strong market potential.
Opportunities for Kazakhstan
The discussions in Beijing align closely with Kazakhstan’s long-term priorities in digital development. The country is working to upgrade its telecommunications infrastructure, expand broadband and mobile coverage, and build the foundation for a data-driven economy.
For Kazakhtelecom, potential cooperation with Guodong could open opportunities for technological modernization, access to advanced infrastructure solutions, and new investment. For Kazakhstan as a whole, such partnerships support the broader objective of strengthening digital sovereignty and positioning the country as a regional hub for telecommunications and data connectivity.
Part of a broader strategic dialogue
The meeting between Nurlan Zhakupov and Lu Jie goes beyond a single project or company. It reflects the broader and steadily deepening economic and technological dialogue between Kazakhstan and China, which in recent years has expanded across infrastructure, energy, industry, and digitalization.
In today’s global economy, digital infrastructure is no longer just a technical issue—it is a key driver of competitiveness, investment attractiveness, and sustainable growth. Against this backdrop, the Beijing talks can be seen as part of Kazakhstan’s efforts to secure long-term digital development through strategic international partnerships.
