Ties between Astana and Beijing reach a new high: Ambassador

Sustained political dialogue and frequent high-level exchanges have elevated bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and China to a historic peak, said Nuryshev Shakhrat, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China.

Speaking at a news conference at the Kazakh embassy in Beijing on Wednesday, Nuryshev said he hopes that deeper people-to-people exchanges will further strengthen bilateral relations.

According to data from the embassy, trade between the two nations reached a record $48.7 billion in 2025, representing an 11 percent year-on-year increase. The momentum has continued into 2026, with bilateral trade surging 46.6 percent in the first quarter, said the ambassador.

During Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to China last year, the two countries agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Kazakhstan Year of Cultural Exchange.

The ambassador said this marks the third consecutive year of themed cooperation between the two countries, underscoring their strategic commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties and good neighborly friendship.

In 2024, China hosted the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year", while Kazakhstan hosted the "China Tourism Year" in 2025. Such collaboration fueled a significant rise in tourism exchanges. The embassy data show that Kazakhstan welcomed nearly 1 million Chinese tourists last year, while around 730,000 Kazakh citizens visited China.

"Such frequent mutual tourist exchanges will contribute to our good neighborly relations and strengthen our bilateral strategic partnership," Nuryshev stated. He further highlighted the robust flight connectivity, with about 90 direct flights per week on 17 routes connecting the two nations.

The ambassador attributed the growing popularity of China as a tourist destination for Kazakh citizens to the visa-free policy, the sense of safety while traveling in China, and the convenience of electronic payment systems.

Looking ahead, Nuryshev announced plans for a series of cultural events in both countries this year, including exhibitions, museum exchanges, concerts, and academic conferences. These activities will facilitate deeper mutual understanding between our peoples and further strengthen bilateral relations through people-to-people connectivity, he said.

yangran1@chinadaily.com.cn