Tokayev: Kazakhstan-China ties at unprecedented high, trade nears $50bn

September 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM1 min

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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said relations with China are at an unprecedentedly high level in an interview published by Xinhua. He noted bilateral trade reached nearly $50 billion in 2025, up 11 percent. Tokayev also highlighted that China is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner.

Key Facts

Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and China reached nearly $50 billion in 2025, an 11 percent increase.
In the first six months of 2026, trade turnover hit $27.2 billion, up almost 25 percent.
China ranks first among Kazakhstan's foreign trade partners.
Tokayev expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his attitude toward Kazakhstan.

Strategic Partnership Assessment

Tokayev described Kazakhstan-China relations as being at an unprecedentedly high level. He said the two countries share a long border and centuries of good-neighborly history. Tokayev thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his understanding of Kazakhstan's role as an influential Eurasian power. He noted that their constant political dialogue has become a key center of the strategic partnership.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

Bilateral trade set new records, reaching nearly $50 billion in 2025, an 11 percent increase. In the first half of 2026, trade turnover reached $27.2 billion, up almost 25 percent. China is Kazakhstan's largest foreign trade partner. Tokayev said Kazakhstan is interested not only in quantitative trade growth but also in changing the structure of economic cooperation.