Editor's Note

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed joint efforts in building a Silk Road Economic Belt during his state visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013. The proposal later evolved into the now fruitful Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) together with that of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Over the last years, five Central Asian nations including Kazakhstan have seen their cooperation with China highly strengthened under the BRI framework, particular via the CIIE platform. In collaboration with the CIIE, China Daily disseminates a special edition of its newspaper that looks at how such cooperations are unfolding and benefiting participating parties.

2025-06-18 China Daily Global Edition Page 5

The full text of the main article is as follows:

China International Import Expo helping countries develop trade and investment

The China International Import Expo, a premier global trading event, has evolved into a vibrant hub for international business collaboration, serving as a catalyst for trade, aiding cross-border investment, and exploring new areas of cooperation.

The expo's role in enhancing commercial exchanges has benefited a large number of countries and regions worldwide, including the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

As key partners involved in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, all five have taken part in the CIIE, displaying a diverse array of products and investment opportunities.

Kazakhstan, where the BRI was first proposed in 2013, has been an active participant in the CIIE, starring in the national exhibition six times and serving as the guest of honor at the second and sixth CIIEs.Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov attended the opening ceremony of the seventh session and delivered a speech, demonstrating his country's high regard for the expo.

The national pavilion of Kazakhstan at the seventh China International Import Expo in Shanghai in 2024. CHINA DAILY

Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and China in 1992, the two countries have achieved remarkable and fruitful results. The CIIE has opened the door to strengthening economic and trade cooperation, and has injected momentum into building 30 years of bilateral relations.

As a window for China to establish a new development paradigm, a platform for promoting high-level opening-up, and an international public good shared globally, the CIIE has complemented and promoted development with the BRI over the past few years.

Nearly 1,000 enterprises from Belt and Road countries, including Kazakhstan, signed up for the sixth CIIE commercial exhibition. The total exhibition area reached 75,000 square meters, an increase of approximately 20 percent compared to the fifth expo, officials said at a symposium held in Nazarbayev University upon the sixth CIIE in September 2023.

The CIIE has become an important channel for cooperation and exchanges between China and Kazakhstan. Efforts should be made to promote economic and trade cooperation between China and Kazakhstan through the CIIE, including strengthening policy communication, providing a better business environment and favorable conditions for enterprises, enhancing cooperation in production capacity, creating new growth points for China-Kazakhstan economic and trade cooperation, strengthening personnel exchanges, and promoting cultural exchanges and interactions.

Since 2020, the Kazakhstani government's Export Acceleration Program has sparked a wave of excitement among local enterprises, propelling them toward participation in the CIIE.

The program's primary objective is to empower Kazakhstani businesses to delve into new international markets or amplify their export capacities by evaluating their prospects.The QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development is the main implementer of this program, with a focus on fostering connections with the Chinese market and the CIIE.

Egemberdieva Asel Yerikovna, deputy general director of QazTrade, said that Kazakhstani exporters are interested in the CIIE, noting that China and Kazakhstan have established a comprehensive logistics route, and the demand for each other's products has become increasingly clear. Participation in the CIIE stands as an effective channel for promoting Kazakh products in the Chinese market, she added.

During the sixth CIIE, QazTrade organized the participation of more than 40 local institutions and enterprises, resulting in the acquisition of a substantial number of orders. Notably, the products of Golden Camel Group have now permeated the Chinese market, with the group boasting the world's premier and most extensive camel milk production line, capable of processing 100 metric tons of fresh camel milk daily.

"When we participated in the first CIIE in 2018, we were somewhat worried about the exhibition results. But after participating for several consecutive years, we have witnessed that each CIIE is better than the previous one. We believe there are great opportunities in the Chinese market, so we are willing to participate in the CIIE every year," said Zhazira Ozatkyzy, general manager of Golden Camel Group.

This sentiment is shared by numerous enterprises in Kazakhstan, like Golden Camel Group, who have embraced the Chinese market through the CIIE. Local business leaders are hopeful about the continued expansion of the CIIE's "circle of friends", fostering increased development opportunities for global enterprises.

At the sixth CIIE, Kazakhstan's Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said that Kazakhstan and China had signed 21 protocols on agricultural and food exports, which significantly bolstered Kazakhstan's supply of agroindustrial complex products to China.

Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Centre, praised the effectiveness of CIIE participation. She identified the expo as a pivotal channel for Kazakhstan to execute its Export Acceleration Program.

Looking ahead, Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, hope that the CIIE will continue to play an important role in advancing global development, she said.

Another regular participant, Uzbekistan, has participated in the expo's national exhibition six times and served as the guest of honor at the second and seventh CIIEs, showcasing its distinctive national products and cutting-edge technologies.

From left: The national pavilion of Uzbekistan, which is the guest country of honor at the seventh CIIE. Visitors check out the Uzbekistan pavilion during the second CIIE. CHINA DAILY

Being a guest country of honor in the seventh CIIE again highlighted the close cooperation and friendship between Uzbekistan and China, said Farhod Arziev, Uzbekistan's ambassador to China.

China is Uzbekistan's largest trading partner and the level of relations between the two countries has been elevated to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, opening new horizons in bilateral cooperation, including in the sphere of trade and investment.

"Participation of Uzbekistan in such trade exhibitions and fairs in China contributes to the growth of trade turnover between our countries, and also provides new opportunities for different investment projects," Arziev said.

Additionally, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have both attended the expo for seven consecutive years, organizing the participation of high-quality enterprises annually.

In previous sessions, Kyrgyzstan spotlighted a diverse range of products, including unique handicrafts that reflect its rich cultural heritage, and high-quality agricultural products that highlight its agricultural advantages. Through the platform of the CIIE, Kyrgyzstan has deepened business negotiations with Chinese enterprises, aiming to expand exports to the Chinese market and promote the development of bilateral trade.

Tajikistan has also captivated audiences with its distinctive offerings since the first CIIE, displaying fossil-based handicrafts and special-flavored foods, attracting the attention of Chinese and international buyers.

In 2018, Tajikistan made its mark at the inaugural event with the participation of 27 agricultural and trade-service enterprises.

Fast-forward to 2022, Isfarafud, a local food company, made its debut at the fifth CIIE. Muminjon Mamadjonov, the company's manager, said that the CIIE not only boosted foreign enterprises' exports to China but had a positive effect on the cooperation and development between Chinese and foreign enterprises.

Turkmenistan, despite maintaining a relatively reserved international trade image, also attaches great importance to the CIIE.

For the first session, the country set up a booth, showcasing its potential across various sectors including trade, investment, technology, history and culture. Its exhibits encompassed a diverse range of fields such as agriculture, textiles, chemicals, trade, healthcare, services and daily necessities.

The Turkmenistan national pavilion at the second CIIE. CHINA DAILY

At the second CIIE, Turkmenistan established a national pavilion to highlight its rich cultural heritage and traditions, with the aim of accessing new markets, fostering international trade cooperation, and enhancing the global presence of its products.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between China and Turkmenistan in 2023, the two nations elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

China has consistently served as Turkmenistan's primary trading partner. Turkmenistan's Ambassador to China Parahat Durdyev expressed the country's readiness to collaborate closely with China. This followed the guidance of both countries' top leaders to intensify exchanges at all levels, deepen cooperation across various sectors, host a series of Turkmen cultural events, and jointly advance the ongoing development of Turkmen-Chinese relations.

The CIIE has built a broad platform for the five Central Asian nations to engage in global commercial and trade exchanges, aiding cooperation intentions across multiple sectors such as energy, agriculture and industry.

Through the CIIE, China and these countries are continuously expanding the depth and breadth of economic and trade cooperation, jointly drawing up a new blueprint for regional development, and taking steps to promote commercial and trade collaboration, experts said.