For Kazakhstan, a nation actively expanding its export capacity and deepening economic and trade cooperation with China, the messages from China's Two Sessions this year are more than just encouraging signals – they are a powerful driving force for its economic development.
Beijing's commitment to further opening its super-large market and supporting partner nations to expand exports aligns perfectly with Kazakhstan's efforts to boost exports to China through multiple channels, marking a new chapter in the mutually beneficial "golden era" of Kazakhstan-China trade, where bilateral trade volume has exceeded $100 billion. This cooperation is particularly promising in the fields of agriculture and high-quality goods, with enormous potential waiting to be tapped.
On March 6, I was personally present at a press conference on the economy during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, where I listened to Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao deliver a speech in person. During his address, he emphasized China's resolve as a responsible major country to further open its super-large market and shared key measures to boost global trade cooperation. Notably, he mentioned that China has been the world's second-largest merchandise trade importer for more than a decade – a status that underscores its capacity to serve as a global trade hub. Minister Wang also stated that China will launch a series of initiatives, including over 100 Export to China events, and adopt a tailored approach to support partner nations, which I believe is of great significance to Kazakhstan as it actively seeks to expand exports to China. As the Eurasian regional Guest Country of Honor for the 2026 China International Import Expo, Kazakhstan is set to leverage this platform to showcase its high-quality products and deepen trade ties with China.
This commitment is not empty rhetoric. Kazakhstan has been proactively taking steps to seize the opportunities brought by China's open market: it has promoted more than 200 local enterprises to settle on e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba, making its high-quality characteristic agricultural products like honey and fruit juice popular among Chinese consumers. Kazakhstan's exports to China have been expanding continuously, with flour, edible oil, soybeans, meat and honey already on the dining tables of ordinary Chinese people. With its high-quality agricultural and industrial products, Kazakhstan is well-positioned to tap into China's vast market of over 1.4 billion consumers – China's supportive policies will enhance the competitiveness of these products, reduce export costs and help Kazakh goods gain a stronger foothold in China.
What sets China's measures apart is their tailored approach. Wang revealed over 100 Export to China events this year, with a customized "one-country, one-strategy" plan designed to address the unique strengths and challenges of individual partner nations. Unlike generic trade deals, this approach offers targeted support to upgrade capacity, streamline logistics and meet Chinese market standards – support that is crucial for Kazakhstan as it optimizes its export structure and expands its presence in the Chinese market.
The timing is perfect for Kazakhstan. As it seeks to optimize its export structure and reduce reliance on single-category exports, the further opening of China's super-large market provides a stable and promising alternative. A striking example of Kazakhstan's export transformation is its trade with China: exports of industrial manufactured goods and agricultural products have increased sharply. Most notably, mechanical and electrical products, which once had no presence in China's market, have experienced rapid growth, reflecting the continuous optimization of Kazakhstan's export structure, driven by the fruitful results of China-Kazakhstan production capacity cooperation and the steady development of industrial parks.
Critics may doubt such partnerships, but China's track record is solid. It has consistently honored commitments to Kazakhstan, focusing on win-win cooperation and mutual development. China's supportive policies, paired with capacity-building assistance, align with its vision of shared development and its role as a reliable partner for Kazakhstan, jointly promoting the steady development of their golden era of trade.
Kazakhstan must seize this chance. By working with China to leverage the "one-country, one-strategy" support, leveraging its status as the theme country of the 2026 China International Import Expo and further promoting enterprises to expand their presence on Chinese e-commerce platforms, it can upgrade export infrastructure, improve product quality and tap into China's vast market – especially by strengthening brand promotion and publicity in the Chinese market to enhance the visibility of its products. This will bring more jobs, higher incomes and stability to ordinary Kazakhs, from farmers in the agricultural regions to entrepreneurs in industrial parks.
China's Two Sessions sent a clear signal: its market is open, and it is ready to deepen the golden era of mutually beneficial cooperation with Kazakhstan. For Kazakhstan, this is more than a trade opportunity – it is a chance to accelerate its export transformation and achieve high-quality economic development, with China as a steadfast partner. The ball is now in Kazakhstan's court to maximize this game-changing commitment and write a new chapter of win-win cooperation.
Shen Shiwei, a founder of the China Briefing newsletter
