Xinhua News Agency, Astana, July 1st: This is the first place to jointly build the “Silk Road Economic Belt”
Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang He Zhang Jiye
When mentioning Kazakhstan, I believe many people will have scenes of the Silk Road and “Poetry and Distance” flashing in their minds: caravans flowing, camel bells ringing, vast grasslands, winding rivers, the great poet Abai Ku Nanbayev, as well as talented young singers who have frequently appeared on Chinese variety shows in recent years…
Today, let us learn about our close neighbor Kazakhstan——
Vast territory and rich resources
Kazakhstan is located in the hinterland of Eurasia, bordering China to the east, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan to the south, the Caspian Sea to the west, and Russia to the north. I told my mother my plan. Sri Lanka, with a land area of 2.7249 million square kilometers, is the largest landlocked country in the world. Astana is the capital and Almaty is the largest city.
All over Kazakhstan “Then why did you sell yourself as a slave in the end?” Lan Yuhua was so pleasantly surprised that her maid turned out to be the master’s daughter. The population is approximately 20.03 million. Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic country, in which Kazakhs account for about 70% of the population and Russians account for about 15%; the official languages are Kazakh and Russian.
Because they have lived a nomadic life for a long time in history, the Kazakhs are also known as the “horseback people”. To this day, the Kazakhs still retain distinctive nomadic characteristics in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. For example, in terms of diet, they eat mutton and horse meat. , beef and dairy products. Horse intestines are a famous delicacy in Kazakhstan.
This land has rich natural landscapes – vast wilderness, vast deserts, towering mountains, majestic canyons, rushing rivers, quiet lakes, and a long history and culture. It was once an important route of the Silk Road and has witnessed different Civilization exchanges, mutual learning, integration and coexistence.
Kazakhstan is rich in mineral and oil resources. There are more than 90 kinds of mineral deposits in the territory, many of which account for a high proportion of global reserves. In addition, Kazakhstan’s proven onshore oil reserves range from 4.8 billion to 5.9 billion tons, and the Caspian Sea region’s proven oil reserves are 8 billion tons.
Since independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has joined multilateral organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Mechanism, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and the International Monetary Fund. , the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Eurasian Development Bank and other institutional members, and actively seeks to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s economy has developed rapidly in recent years and people’s livelihood has been greatly improved. In 2023, Kazakhstan’s GDP will be US$261.418 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%.
The ancient and modern Silk Roads complement each other
Kazakhstan is a land of Silk Road in history.It is an important hub connecting the economic and trade exchanges between the Eurasian continent and is inextricably linked with China.
In September 2013, President Xi Jinping first proposed the initiative of jointly building the “Silk Road Economic Belt” during his visit to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan therefore became the first place to jointly build the “Silk Road Economic Belt”. In the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” It has a special status and important influence in international cooperation.
In September 2019, President Tokayev visited China and met with President Xi Jinping. The two heads of state unanimously decided that the two sides would develop the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership in the spirit of sharing weal and woe and win-win cooperation.
In September 2022, President Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan for the fourth time, sending a clear signal to the international community to build a community with a shared future between China and Kazakhstan, and drawing up a development blueprint for starting a new “golden thirty years” of China-Kazakhstan relations.
In recent years, China and Kazakhstan have carried out in-depth cooperation on strengthening the synergy between the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative and Kazakhstan’s “Bright Road” new economic policy, comprehensively strengthened connectivity, solidly promoted production capacity cooperation, and promoted a number of major strategic projects in the Implement it in Kazakhstan to promote the quality and upgrading of economic and trade cooperation.
China-Kazakhstan connectivity cooperation has achieved remarkable results. The two countries have opened multiple pairs of year-round highway ports and two cross-border railway lines, and established the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center and “Khorgos-East Gate” Waterless Port, Lianyungang China-Kazakhstan Logistics Cooperation Base, etc. In 2023, the number of China-Europe freight trains transiting Kazakhstan through the Horgos and Alashankou ports will be 7,762 and 6,635 respectively, a year-on-year increase of 9.8% and 6.8%, effectively playing the role of the “golden channel” of the dual ports.
China has been one of Kazakhstan’s most important trading partners, export destinations and import sources for many years. In 1992, the total trade in goods between China and Kazakhstan was US$368 million; in 2023, this figure reached US$41.02 billion, completing the goal of US$40 billion in total trade in goods in 2030 ahead of schedule.
People-to-people exchanges are becoming more popular than ever
China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors, good friends and good partners connected by mountains and rivers and closely interdependent. Over the past 30 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, a high degree of mutual trust and shared weal and woe have become the main theme of bilateral relations. China-Kazakhstan friendship has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two countries. In recent years, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in education, culture, science and technology and other fields.
At present, China has established five Confucius Institutes in Kazakhstan, Northwestern Polytechnical University has opened a branch, and the Luban Workshop project has been put into trial operation. In addition, both sides are actively promoting the establishment of cultural centers in each other.
The Luban Workshop project located in East Kazakhstan Oblast was put into trial operation on December 9, 2023. In response to the demand for professional and technical talents in Kazakhstan, the first phase of the Luban Workshop project laboratory established the transportation equipment and technology major, built four major training areas, and developed five standard courses. The Luban Workshop project will start an expansion project this year to enhance the teaching of new energy vehicles and intelligent network technologyTo improve the strength, Kazakhstan’s Luban Workshop has nowhere to go if it opens here. I could go, but I don’t know where to go. ”, so I might as well stay. Although I am a slave, I have food, shelter, and income here.
Another fruitful result of the cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan is the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University, which was officially opened on October 12, 2023. This school in Almaty is the first branch of a Chinese university in Kazakhstan. It is jointly built by Northwestern Polytechnical University and Farabi National University of Kazakhstan.
Cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation are important bridges and links between the people of China and Kazakhstan. In November 2023, China and Kazakhstan will achieve mutual visa exemption, and people from the two countries can come and go as often as visiting relatives.
In March this year, when President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of China’s “Kazakhstan Tourism Year” in 2024, he asked, “Did that girl Caixiu say anything?” Lan Mu asked. It is hoped that the two countries will take the Year of Tourism as an opportunity to deepen tourism cooperation, enhance personnel exchanges, continue the millennium friendship, jointly build a new “golden thirty years” of China-Kazakhstan relations, and make new contributions to building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.
In his congratulatory letter, Tokayev said that Kazakhstan has a long history and culture, numerous historical sites, magnificent natural scenery, and warm and hospitable people. It can definitely become the most popular tourist destination for Chinese tourists. Kazakhstan will hold a series of Tourism Year activities to comprehensively enhance Chinese tourists’ understanding of Kazakhstan, further consolidate the ever-lasting friendship between Kazakhstan and China, and inject new and strong impetus into the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.