Putin and Xi vowed in May to deepen China-Russia “comprehensive strategic partnership” and strengthen defense and military ties at the same time China is expanding its presence in Central Asia, traditionally Russia’s sphere of influence.
Last year, China overtook Russia to become Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade exceeding $41 billion.
“China is ready to work closely with Kazakhstan within the framework of the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries,” the state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as saying.
“China supports Kazakhstan in joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism, playing the role of a ‘middle country’ on the international stage, and making due contributions to global governance.”
11:00
Why Russia is favorably disposed towards China’s presence in Central Asia
Why Russia might be favorable towards China’s presence in Central Asia
Xi also vowed to deepen economic and technological cooperation with Kazakhstan, ranging from traditional energy, agriculture and minerals to new areas such as “electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and satellite communications.”
President Tokayev said cooperation between China and Kazakhstan is in a “golden era”.
“Deepening friendly and strategic cooperation with China is an unshakable strategic priority for Kazakhstan,” Xinhua quoted Tokayev as saying.
Temur Umarov, a research fellow at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Russia and Eurasia Center, said Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are “unique security partners for China.”
“I think President Xi Jinping is trying to get the most out of his visit to the region,” he said.
Kazakhstan shares more than 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) of border with China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and Astana is seen by Beijing as a key partner in cracking down on terrorism in Xinjiang.
The Chinese government launched a crackdown in 2016 following decades of ethnic tensions and unrest in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, as well as cross-border terrorist and extremist activity.
Kazakhstan was also one of the original five countries in the “Shanghai Five” bloc that formed the SCO in 2001, when Uzbekistan joined.
The group has since expanded its membership to include India, Pakistan and Iran, and allowed several other countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to join as dialogue partners, and has also expanded its functions to cover a broader range of issues, including industrial chain security and economic cooperation.
05:05
‘No one warned us’: Putin’s ally criticises response as Russia, Kazakhstan battle historic floods
‘No one warned us’: Putin’s ally criticises response as Russia, Kazakhstan battle historic floods
Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has sought closer ties with China, especially in economic terms.
“Astana wants to strike a balance [dependence on Russia] “Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Central Asian countries have felt increasingly insecure and so they need China’s support,” he said.
Wang added that Kazakhstan looks to China to improve its production capacity, further introduce digital technologies and develop e-commerce.
According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, by the end of 2021, total Chinese direct investment in Kazakhstan reached about US$7 billion.
Astana is also a big promoter of a rail route connecting China with Europe through Kazakhstan, which would give landlocked China access to the sea.
The railway is part of the so-called Trans-Caspian international transport route, which transports goods to Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and the Black Sea without going through Russia.
Many European and Chinese traders are also looking to the Caspian Sea route, fearful of sanctions and being seen as friendly to Russia.
President Xi expressed his support for the route in 2022 and vowed to speed up the construction of the Caspian Sea route under the Belt and Road Initiative.
On Wednesday, President Xi Jinping and President Tokayev attended the opening ceremony of the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Highway via video link and watched the first Chinese-made trucks reach a Caspian port via the highway.
