This past week, Chinese media reported on the Kazakhstani president’s upcoming two visits to China in 2023, a meeting between President Tokayev and Chinese ambassador Zhang Xiao, the newly adopted law on “the ratification of the agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the demarcation of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border”, and the discussions between Kyrgyz Cabinet and Chinese delegation to purchase 1.5 thousand buses from China.
Image source: MFA of China
On March 10, Kazakh Ambassador to China Shakhrat Nuryshev said that Kazakhstan is looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with China and that the Kazakh president may visit China twice in 2023 to attend both the 1st China-Central Asia Summit as well as the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. (The Paper) According to the ambassador, Kazakhstan supports China’s solution for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis and holds a similar position on the matter. This year, the hope is to strengthen and develop the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Nuryshev said. He also noted that Kazakhstan and China have been closely cooperating under the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and on other platforms which shows the high level of mutual political trust between the two countries. “Kazakhstan supports China’s plan to hold the first China-Central Asia Summit and is willing to hold the second summit in Astana. Our president is looking forward to attending this summit, which is expected to be mutually beneficial as it’s not only important for China but also for Central Asian countries,” Nuryshev said. China will also host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation this year. The Kazakh envoy added that they look forward to the Forum and that the Kazakh president may travel to China twice this year.
On March 14, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with China’s Ambassador Zhang Xiao (Sina). The two sides noted the importance of the Central Asia + China Summit, which will be held in Xi’an in May 2023, as well as the planned state visit of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to China. The importance of further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic ties, investment, and cultural-humanitarian exchanges was highlighted at the meeting. The Head of State highly appreciated the peacemaking efforts of Chinese President Xi Jinping for a political settlement of the situation in Ukraine.
On March 16, the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan adopted the law on “the ratification of the agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the demarcation of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border”. (Siluxgc) “The adopted law envisages the demarcation of the state border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Undoubtedly, it will further strengthen the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two fraternal countries,” said Maulen Ashimbaev, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. Roman Vasilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, explained that on December 22, 2022, the process of legalization of the border with Uzbekistan was completed with the signing of the agreement on the demarcation of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border by the presidents of the two countries. The demarcation of the border was carried out based on the agreements on the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan state border of 2001 and 2022. He mentioned that negotiations on the demarcation started in 2003. Work on setting up border markers continued from 2004 to 2021. Over the past 19 years, 100 meetings of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan joint demarcation commission and 34 meetings of the joint working group on demarcation have been held. “The points where the border line will pass have been identified. The interests of residents of both sides and the convenience of border guarding were taken into account. The border line was extended by 5 kilometers. More precisely, the length of the entire border was 2,356 km and 666 m. Some 1,301 border markers have been placed on the borderline,” says Vasilenko. It should be noted that the agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the demarcation of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan state border was signed in December 2022 during the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Uzbekistan.
On March 16, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Zhaparov received a Chinese delegation led by Cai Xianjin, Head of the Office for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Government of Shandong Province. (360buses) The delegation also included the CEO of Zhongtong Bus Peng Feng and CEO of Zhongtong Bus Overseas Marketing Zhu Yonghu and representatives of other Chinese corporations. During the meeting, issues of Kyrgyzstan-Chinese cooperation in all areas of mutual interest were discussed. In particular, the parties discussed the issue of acquiring 1,500 buses manufactured in China for the Bishkek Mayor’s Office. The head of the Cabinet emphasized that special attention should be paid to the opening of service centers in Bishkek during the implementation of the above project. In turn, representatives of the Chinese delegation agreed with the expressed wish. “The People’s Republic of China is one of our main trading partners. We are interested in developing mutual trade and promoting joint projects. I am sure that joint projects, including those aimed at providing residents and guests of the capital with convenient and comfortable public transport, will only strengthen our cooperation,” Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov concluded.
