南方财经全媒体记者 施诗 哈萨克斯坦阿斯塔纳报道

Kazakhstan's strategic location at the heart of the Eurasian continent, historically as a crucial stop along the Silk Road, and as the pioneering ground for the Belt and Road Initiative, has played a vital role in the deepening of China-Kazakhstan relations. Over the past three decades of strong diplomatic ties, the friendship between China and Kazakhstan has continued to flourish, culminating in the establishment of an enduring, comprehensive strategic partnership. Meanwhile, economic and trade relations between the two nations have made significant progress. In 2022, China and Kazakhstan agree to forge the next golden three decades of China-Kazakhstan relations.

How do we evaluate this ongoing development of China-Kazakhstan relations? What transformative impact has the Belt and Road Initiative had on Kazakhstan? In the realm of sustainable development, what collaborative efforts can we expect from China and Kazakhstan? In an exclusive interview with SFC, Kairat Kelimbetov, former Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and former Chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, shared his perspective. 

According to Kelimbetov, Kazakhstan is actively investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, with the aim of expanding the adoption of eco-friendly technologies, "given China's extensive experience in solar and wind energy, we eagerly anticipate the involvement of Chinese investors in our collaborative projects," said Kelimbetov.   

Kelimbetov further emphasized the Belt and Road Initiative can serve as a beacon of sustainable development, predicting that the next decade will bring about innovative changes with a reduced environmental and societal footprint.

Central Asia is witnessing serious infrastructure growth under BRI

SFC Markets and Finance: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Kazakhstan is the birthplace of Silk Road Economic Belt. How do you think about the BRI?

Kairat Kelimbetov: From the outset, Kazakhstan has stood out as a strategic partner in this initiative. Our country actively engages in many collaborative ventures with China, spanning the domains of finance, industry, transportation, and logistics.

Kazakhstan is a prominent central player in the development of overland connections, as two of the six Belt and Road Initiative corridors traverse our territory. Regrettably, the Northern Corridor faces challenges due to the prevailing geopolitical dynamics in the region. However, this circumstance underscores the ever-growing importance of the Southern Corridor, poised to assume an increasingly critical role within the Belt and Road Initiative.

The strategic geographical location of Kazakhstan renders it a vital transit country for the movement of goods between China and Europe and vice versa. With substantial investments in infrastructure, a land route can offer swifter and more environmentally sustainable transportation than a sea route. This route not only facilitates connectivity between European and Southeast Asian markets but also actively contributes to the development and prosperity of Central Asia, South Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East.

SFC Markets and Finance: You mentioned based on the BRI, Kazakhstan has a lot of cooperation with China in many areas. What impressed you most? Would you like to share some examples?

Kairat Kelimbetov: We've got plenty of examples to showcase and even more exciting prospects on the horizon. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, not just Kazakhstan but the whole of Central Asia is witnessing serious infrastructure growth. Think new roads, railways, and more job opportunities for our locals.

Our history of working with China in mining is well-known. Now, other parts of our economy are stepping up. Our president floated the idea of setting up a joint food hub at the International Trade Center “Khorgos.” The focus here is on going green and digital in the agriculture industry, which sounds promising.

Having spent quite some time in the financial sector, I am glad to see Kazakhstan's financial market picking up speed year after year, thanks to our Chinese partners like the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Silk Road Fund, and big banks such as the China Development Bank and the China Construction Bank, not to mention key financial players like the CICC. We see real potential in collaborating with these financial institutions and getting new companies onto the IPO stage.

Plus, we've been working hard to create an offshore center for handling Central Asia business in yuan,

which is a groundbreaking project.

Looking forward to further enhance economic and trade relations with China

SFC Markets and Finance: What’s your insight on China-Kazakhstan trade relation?

Kairat Kelimbetov: During the Summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev mentioned that Kazakhstan can increase its exports to China in 135 non-commodity items. In last year, our trade with China hit a record high, surpassing $30 billion. I'm confident that we'll continue to see growth in trade this year.

What's particularly exciting is the signing of joint investment agreements in critical sectors like energy, transportation, and agriculture. This will boost our economies and create new job opportunities in both our countries. 

We've also reached some important agreements to increase trade, set up a second dry port on the Kazakhstan-China border, open a third railway crossing on the Kazakh-Chinese border, and more. We’re looking forward to achieving more success and further developing our economic and trade relations.

SFC Markets and Finance: In terms of green development, how can China-Kazakhstan cooperate?

Kairat Kelimbetov: China's remarkable expertise in renewable energy has piqued our keen interest. And we enthusiastically welcome the prospect of Chinese companies joining forces with us on Kazakh projects. The vitality of this industry in China aligns seamlessly with Kazakhstan's ambitious objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Kazakhstan took a pivotal step towards environmental responsibility in 2013 when we launched a regulated carbon market.

In 2022, we reached another milestone by establishing a national ESG Club, a platform designed to facilitate the exchange of best practices in sustainable development within the private sector of Kazakhstan. Through my involvement, we successfully issued green bonds for the first time and founded the Green Finance Center at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in 2018. Furthermore, the Astana International Exchange became a signatory to the Green Investment Principles of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019.

A few years ago, at the COP26 conference, Kazakhstan committed to elevating the share of renewable energy sources in our energy mix. Significant strides have been made, but we recognize that a significant journey still lies ahead. In this pursuit, China remains a pivotal strategic partner. 

The impetus for green investments and sustainable development is intensifying within Kazakhstan, as evidenced by the growing discourse at various levels of government, the business community, and society. Kazakhstan highly values its partnership with China, especially when it comes to advancing cutting-edge technology, particularly in the realm of alternative energy resources.

We see numerous opportunities for collaboration, particularly in engaging Chinese investors to bolster our green energy projects, which are integral to our nation's pursuit of sustainable development goals. In our joint efforts, we've formulated sustainable finance principles specifically tailored to the Belt and Road Initiative within Kazakhstan. Upholding these principles of green investments is paramount to us, as they are closely aligned with our commitment to sustainable development, environmental preservation, and adherence to international ecological standards. 

Kazakhstan is actively investing in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, with the aim of expanding the adoption of eco-friendly technologies. Given China's extensive experience in solar and wind energy, we eagerly anticipate the involvement of Chinese investors in our collaborative projects.

Additionally, the development of environmentally sustainable infrastructure is a top priority for us. This encompasses the efficient utilization of resources the establishment of sustainable transportation systems, which are essential elements in our shared vision for a greener future.

BRI projects yield substantial economic benefits for Kazakhstan

SFC Markets and Finance: China-Central Asia relation has opened a new chapter after the first China-Central Asia Summit. What new breakthroughs have been made?

Kairat Kelimbetov: First and foremost, it's worth highlighting the impressive level of participation by the heads of our states at the recent Summit. We've seen some significant breakthroughs in regional cooperation, especially between Kazakhstan and China, which is quite exciting. It's heartening to see China's support for the entire Central Asia region. Kazakhstan, being the region's largest economy, plays a key role in strengthening our multifaceted relations.

SFC Markets and Finance: How do you think about the future of China-Kazakhstan’s relationship? What areas can two countries cooperate?

Kairat Kelimbetov: I think over the past decade, the relationship between China and Kazakhstan

has made significant strides. Kazakhstan witnessed a remarkable surge in foreign investments in 2022, China's contribution accounting for $1.4 billion in investments, nearly tripling its figures from the previous year, is particularly noteworthy.

In the long run, enhancing the capacity of land and sea ports is cardinal to facilitating more efficient and expeditious movement of goods and resources between our countries. The Belt and Road Initiative plays a pivotal role in advancing the development of transit and logistics services by improving infrastructure, optimizing transportation routes, and creating fresh economic opportunities for all participating nations.

SFC Markets and Finance: Looking forward to the next decade, what is the outlook for the Belt and Road Initiative?

Kairat Kelimbetov: The ongoing development of the Southern Corridor stands as a highly advantageous endeavor, not only for Kazakhstan but also for all the countries in the region, encompassing the South Caucasus and Central Asia. It is undeniably has become the key component of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The construction of the Southern Railway Line, connecting China to Europe, extends far beyond the mere transit of consumer goods—it holds immense significance for enhancing food and energy security within the region. This transformative project offers a persified supply chain, expedites the delivery of goods, catalyzes infrastructure development in the vicinity, and bolsters accessibility to crucial energy resources and food supplies.

The transportation sector has recently made a remarkable recovery post-crisis. These transformative projects yield substantial economic benefits for Kazakhstan and simultaneously facilitate our integration into global and regional networks, positioning it for a more prosperous future. 

Our commitment to this endeavor remains unwavering. The Belt and Road Initiative can serve as a beacon of sustainable development. So, in the next ten years, we will see even more transit and less harm to the environment and society.

The Greater Bay Area as the driving force behind China's economic growth

SFC Markets and Finance: You also serve as the director of the International Financial Forum (IFF) and have visited Guangdong multiple times. What is your impression of Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area?

Kairat Kelimbetov: Over the past decade, I've had the privilege to visit Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area on multiple occasions. It's been great to witness the rapid expansion of the cities' infrastructure during this time. China's strategic focus on technological development has unquestionably proven to be the right course of action. 

Today, this region stands as the driving force behind China's economic transformation, boasting a thriving ecosystem encompassing industry, finance, and technology. It has become a vibrant hub for innovative companies. and I'm optimistic that the number of startups from Central Asia will continue to rise there.

Looking ahead, I'm hopeful that we'll witness an increase in the number of direct flights connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and cities in Kazakhstan in the foreseeable future. Such developments are not only instrumental for the growth of tourism and cultural exchange but also hold immense potential for strengthening business ties between China and Kazakhstan. There is room for expansion in this regard.

The region's extraordinary potential leaves me confident that our cooperation will further deepen and expand across Central Asia in the years to come.