Joint statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) --

Joint statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassymjomart Tokayev, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China paid a state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2 to 4 July 2024 and attended the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the SCO+ meeting.

The two heads of state held talks in a cordial, friendly and pragmatic atmosphere and spoke highly of the achievements in the development of China-Kazakhstan relations over the past 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The two sides stressed their commitment to the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan issued on 3 January 1992, the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed on 23 December 2002, the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed on 13 June 2011, and the Joint Statement on the Development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed on 31 August 2015. Joint Declaration of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the New Stage of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed on 8 June 2017, Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed on 11 September 2019, Joint Statement on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan signed on 14 September 2022, and The principles and contents set forth in the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan and other bilateral documents.

The two sides stressed that they will further develop all-round and efficient cooperation between the two countries and create a new "golden 30 years" of China-Kazakhstan relations. The two sides also had a frank exchange of views on international and regional issues of common concern.

1. The two sides pledged to continue to take the diplomacy of heads of state as the guide, give full play to the potential of exchanges at all levels and cooperation in various fields, further consolidate the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership at a higher level, and promote the building of a community with a shared future featuring friendship and high mutual trust, solidarity and shared prosperity for all generations.

The two heads of state noted the high level of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed that they will, as always, work together to strengthen China-Kazakhstan relations, the friendship between the two countries is unbreakable, the bilateral strategic dialogue is not affected by one momentary event, and the level of political mutual trust is high.

2. Kazakhstan congratulates the People's Republic of China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the economic and social development goals set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan will be successfully achieved.

The two sides stressed the importance of maintaining political security. To this end, China and Kazakhstan will continue to deepen political mutual trust, increase mutual support on issues related to the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the two countries, resolutely oppose interference in internal affairs by external forces, and resolutely oppose the politicization of human rights issues and double standards.

China firmly supports Kazakhstan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the development path independently chosen by Kazakhstan, and the necessary measures taken by Kazakhstan to maintain domestic stability, ethnic harmony and promote economic and social development in the process of building a "just Kazakhstan".

Kazakhstan firmly supports the one-China principle, that is, there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. Kazakhstan opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces, reiterates that it will not carry out any form of official exchanges with Taiwan, and supports all efforts made by the Chinese Government to realize national reunification.

3. The two sides pointed out that the exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries have a good momentum and they are willing to continue to deepen the exchange of experience between the two countries in the field of legislation and governance.

The two sides support exchanges between the political parties of the two countries, deepen mutual understanding and trust, and promote bilateral cooperation in various fields.

4. The two sides highly value the role of the Strategic Dialogue between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries established in March 2024 in further deepening political mutual trust and developing the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

5. In September 2013, Kazakhstan became the first place to initiate the Belt and Road Initiative, and the two heads of state spoke highly of the practical cooperation between the two sides to continue to promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides noted that the Belt and Road Initiative has become an efficient and popular platform for international cooperation. The two sides are willing to promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the economic policy of "Just Kazakhstan", further tap the potential of cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment and connectivity, and jointly ensure the safe and smooth implementation of relevant cooperation projects between the two countries. The two sides are willing to continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual benefit and enhance the level of connectivity between China and Kazakhstan.

The two heads of state pointed out in particular that the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee and the China-Kazakhstan Business Council have played a key coordinating role in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and actively expanding China-Kazakhstan practical cooperation, and have achieved positive results in promoting the development of China-Kazakhstan economic and trade relations and deepening practical cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.

The two sides spoke highly of the record high bilateral trade volume in 2023 and the efforts made by the two governments to increase the bilateral trade volume, and were willing to take concrete measures to expand trade and promote trade facilitation, further deepen e-commerce cooperation, implement the "single window" interconnection of international trade, facilitate trade exchanges, and agreed to double the trade volume as soon as possible in the future.

The two sides are willing to work in the same direction to expand the trade structure between China and Kazakhstan, promote trade in high value-added and high-tech products, and jointly promote the diversification of the trade structure.

The two sides are willing to jointly implement the Plan for the Development of Economic and Trade Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and promote the steady and healthy development of China-Kazakhstan economic and trade cooperation.

China welcomes Kazakhstan's active participation in the China International Import Expo, the China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo and the China-Eurasia Expo, and encourages enterprises from both sides to use these platforms to expand cooperation and share development opportunities.

The two sides are willing to jointly promote cooperation in the fields of standardization, conformity assessment and metrology to create favorable conditions for bilateral trade.

The two sides are willing to jointly promote the completion of negotiations on the upgrading of the China-Kazakhstan bilateral investment treaty as soon as possible, so as to provide better legal guarantees for bilateral investment cooperation.

The two sides welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation in the field of conformity assessment between the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The parties welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of quality and safety of import and export commodities.

In order to expand the scope of cooperation, cultivate new growth points and new drivers of cooperation, and give full play to the complementary advantages of the economy, the two sides are willing to continue to exchange experience in governance. Academics from both sides will also study the possibility of establishing a platform for dialogue in this field.

The two sides welcomed the first meeting of the Subcommittee on Innovation Cooperation of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee held in Astana on May 23, 2024.

The two sides stressed the importance of continuously deepening cooperation in science and technology innovation, and will actively promote more practical results in science and technology poverty alleviation, technology transfer, joint research, and joint construction of scientific research platforms, promote the establishment of a number of China-Kazakhstan partner research institutes, and further promote the exchange of scientists between the two countries.

The two sides support exchanges and cooperation between aerospace agencies and enterprises of the two countries in the field of peaceful uses of outer space, promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the moon and deep space, remote sensing data reception and exchange, and explore the possibility of commercial use of the two sides' space launch sites.

The two sides spoke highly of the positive role of the China-Kazakhstan industrial and investment cooperation mechanism in promoting industrial cooperation between the two countries, and are willing to further deepen the investment and development cooperation between the two countries, accelerate the implementation of investment cooperation projects in non-resource fields, and study and explore the establishment of joint industrial parks. Emphasis will be placed on cooperation in emerging areas such as renewable energy, critical minerals, innovation, digital economy, food security, agriculture, transportation, freight and logistics.

The two sides are willing to promote cooperation in the field of industry and information technology, share development experience, and strengthen cooperation in the fields of information technology, small and medium-sized enterprises, 5G, communications, data storage and analysis, energy electronics, and personnel training.

The two sides will take measures to ensure the long-term safe and stable operation of the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and the Kazakhstan section of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, as well as stable supply as planned, and study the possibility of increasing supply. The two sides will continue to deepen cooperation in oil and gas exploration, exploitation and processing, and continue to strengthen cooperation in clean energy such as wind power, photovoltaic and solar thermal.

The two sides will actively promote cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy between the two countries.

The two sides have taken steps to jointly implement green energy projects in Kazakhstan, including the construction of high-tech power stations and the upgrading of the power grid.

The two sides are willing to jointly refine the construction plan of the third China-Kazakhstan cross-border railway and agree on the connection point in accordance with the procedures, and welcome the opening of the Xi'an dry port terminal in Kazakhstan. The two sides reaffirmed their willingness to continuously improve the level of connectivity, continue to deepen cooperation in the field of infrastructure and engineering construction, continue to jointly develop the China-Kazakhstan Lianyungang Logistics Cooperation Base, tap the potential of cross-border cargo transportation and ports, deepen practical cooperation between China-Europe (Asia) trains and trans-Caspian international transport routes, and increase the number of flights. The two sides agreed to continue to simultaneously promote the upgrading and reconstruction of China-Kazakhstan border ports and continuously improve the traffic capacity of the ports.

The two sides are willing to study the possibility of opening more border crossings between China and Kazakhstan in light of necessity and feasibility. The Kazakh side proposed to open the Muzart-Naringol border crossing and the Aherituk-Terekt border crossing.

The two sides will establish a communication and coordination mechanism for freight rates on international trans-Caspian transport routes, including China-Europe (Asia) trains, at the level of railway companies of the two countries.

Recognizing the importance of accelerating trans-Caspian transport to ensure the stability and smoothness of the international logistics supply chain, the two sides fully affirmed that the transport authorities of the two countries jointly organized the opening ceremony of the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Direct Express, and are willing to continue to deepen practical cooperation between the China-Europe Railway Express and Trans-Caspian transport.

The two sides are willing to jointly support the launch of the China-Central Asia cultural tourism train, including exploring the opening of the first Xi'an-Almaty cultural tourism train.

The two sides are willing to strengthen cooperation between postal administrations, support postal express enterprises of the two countries to carry out cross-border delivery business cooperation, and promote the development of cross-border e-commerce.

The two sides will actively implement the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Management System of the China-Kazakhstan State Border, signed on 20 December 2006, and promote the establishment of the China-Kazakhstan Joint Border Committee as soon as possible.

The two sides pointed out the need to expand and deepen agricultural cooperation and welcomed the establishment of the Agricultural Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee. The two sides stressed the need to further expand the export of Kazakh agricultural products to China.

The two sides are willing to take more practical measures to exchange experiences in the fields of water-saving irrigation, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, and comprehensive utilization of barren soils. The two sides support increasing investment in Kazakhstan's agricultural sector, especially in the construction of green ecological and high value-added agricultural product production capacity for Chinese consumers. The two sides will continue to deepen cooperation in the field of animal and plant inspection and quarantine on the basis of international standards and rules, so as to expand the export of Kazakh agricultural products to China and transshipment to third countries.

6. The two sides stressed that they will deepen people-to-people exchanges, carry out extensive dialogue among civilizations, strengthen people-to-people cooperation in the fields of health, education, culture, tourism, archaeology, archives, sports, media and think tanks, hold various activities in innovative forms to expand youth exchange mechanisms, and carry out joint cooperation in the fields of archaeology, cultural heritage protection and restoration, museum exchanges, and recovery and repatriation of lost cultural relics.

The two sides will study the establishment of a sub-committee on educational cooperation within the framework of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee in 2025.

The two sides will complete the establishment of cultural centers in each other as soon as possible.

The two sides spoke highly of the work carried out within the framework of China's "Year of Tourism of Kazakhstan" and are willing to jointly organize follow-up activities to promote the development of tourism cooperation between the two countries.

The two heads of state declared 2025 as the "Year of Chinese Tourism" in Kazakhstan.

The two sides will make every effort to promote cooperation between educational institutions and research institutes, and encourage and expand the scale of two-way flow of students from the two countries. The two sides welcomed the opening of branch campuses of City University of Hong Kong at Satbayev State Technical University and Beijing Language and Culture University at Astana International University. The two sides encourage China's high-level colleges and universities to run schools in Kazakhstan. The two sides are willing to speed up the establishment of a second Luban workshop in Kazakhstan.

The two sides welcomed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the State Administration of Radio and Television of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan to further deepen cooperation in program broadcasting, joint production and personnel training.

The two sides support the exhibition of Kazakh cultural relics in China and the exhibition of Chinese cultural relics in Kazakhstan.

The two sides spoke highly of the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection. The two sides are willing to continue to cooperate on the monitoring and protection of water quality of transboundary rivers and the emergency response and pollution prevention and control of transboundary rivers, so as to effectively improve the environmental quality of border areas and promote regional green development.

On the basis of the principles of equality, good-neighborliness and mutual benefit, the two sides will continue to promote practical cooperation under the framework of the China-Kazakhstan Joint Commission on the Utilization and Protection of Transboundary Rivers. The two sides will actively promote the exchange of hydrology and water-saving technologies, continue to work together to do a good job in the operation and management of the Khorgos River Friendship Water Diversion Project and the Sumubai River Joint Water Diversion Project, and build a high-quality Alamali (Chukurbulak) joint debris flow dam on the Khorgos River, so as to benefit the people of the two countries along the cross-border rivers. The Kazakh side thanked the Chinese side for increasing the frequency of flood reporting to Kazakhstan during the 2024 Irtysh River flood season, and believed that this has provided important help for Kazakhstan to do a good job in reservoir management and protect the interests of residents. The two sides agreed to actively carry out consultations on the draft Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Allocation of Water Volumes of Transboundary Rivers within the framework of the mechanism of the China-Kazakhstan Joint Commission on the Utilization and Protection of Transboundary Rivers.

The two sides welcomed the consensus in principle reached by the competent authorities of the two countries on the exchange of experience in the fields of ecological supervision and biodiversity conservation.

7. The two sides spoke highly of the level of sub-national cooperation in 2023 and welcomed the holding of the 3rd China-Kazakhstan Sub-national Cooperation Forum in Urumqi on June 26, 2024. The two sides support the two countries in carrying out various forms of exchanges and cooperation, tap the potential of cooperation between the two countries, encourage more provinces, prefectures (autonomous regions and municipalities) to establish friendly relations, and enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

8. The two sides reaffirm their firm adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, and the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, and support the development of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness and justice, win-win cooperation, equal participation in global governance, and mutual interests. The two sides are willing to deepen cooperation under the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the China-Central Asia Mechanism.

The two sides expressed concern over the turbulent international situation and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the United Nations and its specialized agencies to play a major coordinating role in maintaining international security and sustainable development. In this context, China has taken note of Kazakhstan's initiative to establish a United Nations Regional Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.

The two sides spoke highly of the work done by Kazakhstan in assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and expressed confidence that the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Astana on July 4, 2024 will achieve fruitful results. The parties agreed to work with the SCO member states to improve the organization's activities, formulate the SCO Development Strategy up to 2035, and promote the implementation of the SCO Initiative on Solidarity and Promoting Justice, Harmony and Development in the World. The two sides will continue to strengthen mutual support and cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit", build consensus on building a community with a shared future for mankind, and make greater contributions to safeguarding international and regional security, stability, development and prosperity.

Kazakhstan will support China's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) from 2024 to 2025 and jointly push the SCO's cooperation in various fields to a new level.

China highly appreciates the work done by Kazakhstan as the chair of the CICA from 2022 to 2024, and the two sides reaffirmed their willingness to jointly promote the upgrading of the CICA into a full-fledged international organization.

The two heads of state welcomed the establishment of the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia Mechanism in Xi'an on March 30, 2024, and believed that the China-Central Asia Mechanism will become an efficient and important multilateral cooperation mechanism, injecting new impetus into the comprehensive development of relations between China and Central Asian countries.

China supports and is ready to fully assist Kazakhstan in successfully hosting the Second China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan in 2025.

Kazakhstan thanked China for its consistent support for Kazakhstan in hosting the World and Traditional Religious Leaders' Conference, and the two sides are willing to continue to work closely under the framework of the conference to promote the concepts of inclusiveness, religious harmony and solidarity for all mankind.

The two sides strongly condemn all forms of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and are willing to actively practice the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, improve the implementation of the liaison mechanism between representatives at the three levels of border defense cooperation, jointly crack down on the "three forces", transnational organized crime and drug-related crimes, and safeguard the security and stability of the two countries and the region. The two sides will jointly promote the establishment of a meeting mechanism between the China-Central Asia Ministers of Public Security and Internal Affairs.

The two sides are willing to jointly promote global biosecurity governance and institutionalize the Biological Weapons Convention in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state. Support and encourage the biological research institutions of the two countries to carry out joint scientific research and share R&D results, and carry out biosecurity policy experience exchange and scientific research cooperation, so as to safeguard biosecurity and people's lives and health. China reiterates its support for Kazakhstan's initiative to establish an international biosafety agency.

Based on the results of the first round of China-Kazakhstan inter-departmental consultations on biosafety, which was successfully held in Astana on July 20, 2023, the two sides agreed to continue cooperation in this field and hold the next round of biosafety consultations in Beijing in 2025.

Kazakhstan welcomes China's Global AI Governance Initiative and China's efforts to strengthen the rights of developing countries in global AI governance.

The two sides are ready to strengthen coordination on global governance in cyberspace, promote the building of a more just and reasonable global Internet governance system, and jointly build a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly community with a shared future in cyberspace.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution on "Promoting International Cooperation in Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security".

The two sides will actively cooperate in implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind put forward by President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, as well as advocating an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization.

9. President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China expressed his heartfelt thanks to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassymjomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for their warm and friendly reception, and invited President Kassymjomart Tokayev to pay an official visit to China at a mutually convenient time.

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassymjomart Tokayev, expressed his gratitude and accepted the invitation, and the timing of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

The two heads of state believe that the talks and the consensus reached during the talks and the documents signed during the state visit will inject strong impetus into the further development of the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields and bring benefits to the two peoples.

This declaration was signed in Astana on 3 July 2024 in two copies, each in Chinese, Kazakh and Russian.

President of the People's Republic of China President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Xi Jinping Kasemjomart Tokayev