Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kazakhstan in 1949, the two countries have been bound by their geographical proximity, sharing mountain ranges and rivers, as well as a historical legacy of generations-long friendship, jointly scripting a glorious chapter in the civilization of the Silk Road. As President Xi Jinping emphasized during the talks, “The China-Kazakhstan relationship has weathered the tests of international changes and maintained a high level of operation. This is attributable to our geographical proximity and the historical legacy of friendship passed down through generations. It is also the inevitable choice for both countries to pursue common development.”

This assertion not only echoes the statement made by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to China in 2023 that “Kazakhstan will always regard China as one of its most important strategic partners,” but also aligns with the viewpoint put forward by Kazakh scholar Leila F. Delovarova in her 2023 academic paper regarding “Kazakhstan’s strategic positioning within the collective security system in Asia.”

It is noteworthy that the stability of China-Kazakhstan relations became even more pronounced in 2024. According to the “White Paper on China-Central Asia Cooperation (2024 Edition),” bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan exceeded $200 billion in 2023, marking a year-on-year increase of 12%. Cooperation in fields such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure stood out particularly. This data not only reflects the advantages of economic complementarity between the two countries but also validates President Tokayev’s optimistic forecast during his 2024 state visit that “China-Kazakhstan cooperation will enter a ‘Golden 30-Year Period.'”

The core topics of this round of talks centered on three major directions: deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation, advancing the construction of regional security mechanisms, and expanding the scope of multilateral diplomatic cooperation.

Firstly, the two sides reached multiple consensuses on people-to-people exchanges, energy cooperation, and infrastructure connectivity. For instance, China plans to invest in and construct new photovoltaic power stations in southern Kazakhstan to support its green energy transition goals. Additionally, the two countries intend to launch the China-Kazakhstan Youth Exchange Year in 2025, aiming to further solidify the foundation of friendship between their peoples through cooperation in fields such as science and technology, education, and culture. After the talks, Tokayev stated, “Kazakhstan will prioritize cooperation with China in areas like energy and transportation. This will not only help Kazakhstan achieve economic diversification but also provide new impetus for sustainable development in the Central Asian region.”

Secondly, both sides reaffirmed their firm support for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and reached an agreement on deepening cooperation within the “SCO+” mechanism. Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan will actively participate in multilateral dialogues under the “SCO+” framework to promote the establishment of a more just and inclusive regional security system. This stance aligns with Kazakhstan’s vision for a collective security system in Asia, which it proposed in 2023.

Furthermore, the two sides also discussed how to enhance cooperation with Global South countries through the deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative. Tokayev expressed that Kazakhstan will strengthen cooperation with China in regions such as Africa and the Middle East to jointly address global challenges like climate change and food security. This direction resonates with the statements made by the Kazakh President during his visit to Italy in 2024, when he said, “Kazakhstan will enhance cooperation with European countries like Italy through the Belt and Road Initiative to jointly promote regional economic integration.”

For European commerce and trade, the stability of China-Kazakhstan relations undoubtedly brings many positive impacts. Firstly, the stability of China-Kazakhstan relations helps solidify the foundation of trade cooperation. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Kazakhstan have forged a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. This stable and high-level relationship provides a solid basis for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Commercial exchanges between China and Europe often require transit or cooperation through third-party countries, and the stability of China-Kazakhstan relations ensures the smoothness of this process, thereby indirectly promoting the development of bilateral European commerce and trade.

Secondly, the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative by China and Kazakhstan presents opportunities for Europe. Firstly, both sides emphasized the importance of high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” during their talks, which will facilitate in-depth cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in traditional fields such as trade, investment, and energy, and further expand into emerging areas like high-tech and green sustainable development. These new cooperative domains will offer more business opportunities and investment spaces for European enterprises. Secondly, through measures such as advancing the construction of cross-border railway projects and renovating port infrastructure, the level of connectivity between China and Kazakhstan will be further enhanced. This will help reduce logistics costs, improve trade efficiency, and thus provide more convenient and efficient transportation channels for bilateral European commerce and trade.

Finally, the comprehensive security cooperation mentioned in the talks, including expanding exchanges in law enforcement security and defense, and deepening emergency management cooperation, will contribute to maintaining the security and stability of both China and Kazakhstan as well as the region. A safe and stable political environment is a crucial guarantee for the smooth conduct of commercial activities, and therefore, this will be conducive to the sustained development of bilateral European commerce and trade.

The talks held on June 16, 2025, were not merely a dialogue between leaders of the two countries but also a passing on of friendship that transcends time and space. Against the backdrop of a complex and ever-changing international landscape, China and Kazakhstan have, through deepened cooperation, offered China’s solutions and Kazakhstan’s wisdom for global governance. The construction of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future not only concerns the well-being of the peoples of both countries but will also inject new impetus into world peace and development.

By Yuli Zhang