BEIJING, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the first China-Central Asia Summit was held in Xi'an in May 2023, China's relations with Central Asian countries have entered a new era. A series of cooperative initiatives have deepened and solidified, continuously invigorating regional development. The second summit is widely anticipated to outline a new blueprint for cooperation.

In a recent exclusive written interview with Global Times reporters Hu Yuwei and Zhao Juecheng (GT), Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China, Shakhrat Nuryshev (Nuryshev), expressed his belief that the first China-Central Asia Summit, held in Xi'an in 2023, pioneered a new model of regional collaboration. He expressed confidence that the second summit, held in Astana, will further enhance China-Central Asia cooperation with significant momentum. Nuryshev also highly praised the current China-Kazakhstan relationship, describing it as a model of neighborly friendship, mutual respect, and shared development.

GT: What are your expectations for the second China-Central Asia Summit?

Nuryshev: We eagerly anticipate the second China-Central Asia Summit to be a key diplomatic event that will inject strong momentum into deepening multifaceted cooperation among the mechanism's members. The summit has evolved into a dialogue platform rooted in the principles of equality, good-neighborliness, and mutual benefit, with the first summit in Xi'an in 2023, setting a new standard for regional collaboration.

As the host country, Kazakhstan places great importance on the substantive content and organization of the second summit. We are committed to fostering practical cooperation across various fields, ensuring consistency and continuity. A key focus will be implementing initiatives launched in Xi'an, including the establishment of specific cooperation mechanisms.

We will prioritize enhancing transportation and logistics connectivity, industrial collaboration, and promoting green and digital transformation in the region. Education, science, culture, and youth exchanges will also be significant topics.

We believe this Summit will mark a crucial step toward building a unified space of cooperation and trust across Eurasia. In the face of growing geopolitical challenges, this mechanism, based on mutual respect and balanced interests, opens genuine prospects for sustainable development, improved well-being for our peoples, and regional stability.

GT: You have studied and worked in China for many years and are serving as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China for the second time. How do you evaluate the development of China-Kazakhstan relations over the past decade since your first appointment as ambassador? What is your assessment of the current state of bilateral relations?

Nuryshev: I was first appointed as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to China in February 2015, witnessing historic transformations in both China and our bilateral relations. Over the past decade, China has undergone profound internal changes - from industrial modernization to digital and green development. These shifts have opened new avenues for China-Kazakhstan cooperation, making it increasingly strategic, diverse, and sustainable.

Kazakhstan is the first place where the Silk Road Economic Belt was proposed. We highly value China's efforts in strengthening regional connectivity, developing infrastructure, advancing technological exchanges, and fostering people-to-people dialogue.

It is particularly worth noting that the most important driving force behind the relations between the two countries is head-of-state diplomacy. With multiple meetings between our leaders in recent years, we look forward to the Chinese leader's visit to Kazakhstan for the second China-Central Asia Summit. Kazakhstan's head of state also plans to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin this autumn. I believe these visits will open new horizons for bilateral cooperation.

Today, Kazakhstan is China's largest trading partner in Central Asia, with bilateral trade reaching a record $43.8 billion in 2024. We are working together to double this figure in the coming years, a goal that we believe is achievable through the synergy of the BRI and Kazakhstan's new economic policy.

The current China-Kazakhstan relationship exemplifies neighborly friendship, mutual respect, and shared development - a truly strategic partnership oriented toward the future, built on a shared vision of a peaceful, just, and sustainable global community.

GT: Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the BRI, in Kazakhstan in 2013. Since then, China and Kazakhstan have actively cooperated under the BRI framework. How do you evaluate the outcomes of this cooperation?

Nuryshev: President Xi's proposal in Astana in 2013 marked a turning point for regional and global cooperation. Over the past 12 years, it has evolved into a robust platform for implementing concrete projects with long-term strategic vision. Kazakhstan has supported this initiative from the outset, making tangible contributions to its development.

Kazakhstan also proposed the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or the Middle Corridor, as a complementary effort to the BRI, a move strongly supported by China at the highest levels. Today, we are proud to see numerous joint infrastructure, industrial, energy, and agricultural projects underway, all tangible outcomes of this cooperation.

First, Kazakhstan plays a central role in ensuring land connectivity between China and Europe, with over 80 percent of land-based container transport passing through our country. Second, under the BRI framework, we are implementing key infrastructure projects such as the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base, the Aktau port container hub, and the Western Europe-Western China highway.

We are actively developing regional transport hubs. Following the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, Kazakhstan and China have launched a freight terminal, which has since started operations.

I wish to emphasize that the BRI has never stood still, but adapted to the challenges of today's era. Nowadays, in addition to transportation and logistics infrastructure, all parties are also focusing on development projects related to digital infrastructure, green technologies, and efficient logistics solutions.

Today, the initiative strengthens trust among regional nations, stimulates investment, and enhances transportation, energy, and people-to-people links. Kazakhstan and China are advancing toward a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, jointly promoting prosperity and stability in Eurasia.

GT: Beyond the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, China and Kazakhstan also actively collaborate within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the SCO, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). What common principles and values do you believe the two countries uphold in promoting genuine multilateralism?

Nuryshev: Kazakhstan and China share similar positions on addressing key global and regional issues, consistently advocating for a just, sustainable international order based on equality, mutual respect, and cooperative benefit. Our close cooperation within the UN, SCO, and CICA reflects the strategic nature of our partnership.

We highly value the effective coordination of Kazakhstan and China on the international stage, including support for the UN's central role, adherence to international law, non-interference in internal affairs, and prioritizing peaceful conflict resolution. As Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly emphasized, two countries are jointly promoting regional security, stability, and development.

Kazakhstan actively champions the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Xi. Notably, the absence of contradictions or unresolved issues between us provides a solid foundation for expanding cooperation across all areas. While maintaining traditional friendship and political mutual trust, Kazakhstan and China will continue to coordinate within international organizations. We believe this partnership will make a significant contribution to building a more equitable, balanced, and inclusive global governance system, promoting world peace, sustainable development, and security.

GT: In recent years, cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges between China and Kazakhstan have become increasingly vibrant. For instance, this year marks the "Kazakhstan tourism year in China." What role do you believe people-to-people exchanges play in bilateral relations?

Nuryshev: The development of people-to-people exchanges plays a pivotal role in strengthening friendship, trust, and mutual understanding between the peoples of Kazakhstan and China. In recent years, our cooperation in culture, education, and tourism has been particularly dynamic, becoming an indispensable part of our permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

A significant event this year will be the opening of a Kazakh Cultural Center in Beijing and a Chinese Cultural Center in Astana. This is a historic step, symbolizing spiritual closeness and opening new prospects for cultural exchanges.

Currently, over 4,000 Kazakh students are studying in China, with numbers steadily increasing. In 2023, we launched a collaboration with Tianjin Vocational Institute, establishing a Luban Workshop at the East Kazakhstan Technical University to train talent in mechanical manufacturing. We plan to open a second Luban Workshop at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan in 2025 to develop expertise in information technology. In 2024, the Beijing Language and Culture University opened a branch campus in Astana.

In tourism, there is growing interest in Kazakhstan's cultural heritage, natural beauty, and ethnic traditions. We successfully hosted the "Kazakhstan Tourism Year in China" in 2024, and the "China Tourism Year in Kazakhstan" in 2025 will continue this effort. These exchanges are transforming into tools that enhance neighborly friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples.

We are actively working on new flight routes, with plans to launch Almaty-Guangzhou, Almaty-Chengdu, and Almaty-Shanghai routes this year, increasing weekly flights between our countries to 84. All these efforts lay a solid foundation to further boost tourism exchanges. From January to May this year, we welcomed approximately 280,000 Chinese tourists, a 42 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

It is worth highlighting that the core of people-to-people exchanges lies in the youth, students, scholars, and representatives of creative industries. This is a long-term investment in the future, laying the groundwork for sustainable trust and cooperation over the coming decades.