A train loaded with car parts and electronic products whistled westward from Lianyungang, Jiangsu, crossing the Gobi and grasslands, and arrived at Aktau Port on the coast of the Caspian Sea after changing trains in Kazakhstan. More than a decade ago, this was just the starting point of Kazakhstan's dream to reach the Pacific Ocean; Nowadays, it is one of the busiest channels on the Eurasian continent. On September 25, 2026, at the Kazakhstan China Investment Forum held in Almaty, Kazakh President Tokayev presented a new set of data: China's investment in Kazakhstan has exceeded 29 billion US dollars, and the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has reached a level of upgrading and replacement.

From Lianyungang to the Caspian Sea

Tokayev prioritized transportation and logistics, emphasizing Kazakhstan's need to strengthen its role as a hub connecting the Chinese and European markets. He revealed that a logistics hub network connecting China's coastal areas and the Caspian Sea has been formed from Lianyungang to Aktau; The new hub will be the Ha Zhong Port located in Chengdu, and Kazakhstan also plans to open a consulate general in the area. The development of the intermediate corridor has been identified as a priority task and is reshaping the transportation pattern between Asia and Europe. Wang Haiyan, Vice Dean of the Institute of Russian and Eurasian Studies at East China Normal University and Director of the Kazakhstan Research Center, pointed out that more than half of the land transportation between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan, and the third cross-border railway and supporting infrastructure will further consolidate its hub position. The forum also showcased the Monet Kizilzar and Bakht Ayagoz railway lines, as well as plans to collaborate with Minmetals Logistics to embed autonomous driving and digital systems into logistics corridors.

From project to industrial ecology

The cooperative chassis is getting thicker. Last year, the bilateral trade volume approached a record high of 50 billion US dollars, with China's customs data at 48.7 billion US dollars and Kazakhstan's statistics at 34.1 billion US dollars. The two governments are pushing towards a target of 100 billion US dollars. More than 9000 Chinese companies are active in the Harbin market, with China's direct investment in Harbin reaching a record high of 2.8 billion US dollars last year. The Harbin China industrial cooperation project portfolio has 260 large-scale projects with a total value exceeding 62 billion US dollars. The approval of investment protection agreements has solidified the legal foundation, and the visa free system has made commercial transactions more frequent. Tokayev proposes to launch the joint design and manufacturing project between China and Kazakhstan for a shared historical destiny, with the government and Chinese partners jointly forming a project pool. The Almaty automobile industry cluster is growing, the Karaganda silicon project is under construction, metallurgy, petrochemicals, and energy storage are advancing simultaneously, and Lihua, Fufeng, and Dalian Hesheng Holdings are deeply involved in cotton textile and corn and grain processing. Wang Haiyan believes that this reflects that Chinese investors are shifting from simply obtaining raw materials to processing and deeper industrial value chains. Ubiquitous Technology plans to build the first humanoid robot manufacturing factory outside of China in Almaty, while Baiao and INKAR are promoting localized production of cancer drugs.

From minerals to the digital race track

Mining and metallurgy is another priority area, and Kazakhstan has reserves of uranium, copper, gold, coal, key minerals, and rare earth metals. Digitization, smart cities, and satellite technology are highly anticipated. Wang Haiyan believes that digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence are emerging investment directions, covering smart cities, intelligent transportation, 5G and 6G, and digital logistics. Renewable energy and water-saving agricultural technologies also have vast potential. Financial support keeps pace: Astana International Financial Center plays a prominent role and has enormous potential for cooperation with Hong Kong. In early September, Samruk Kazena became the first issuer in Central Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to enter the Chinese interbank market, issuing panda bonds worth over 3 billion yuan, approximately 450 million US dollars. During the forum, both parties exchanged 10 signed agreements, covering the Abai area electrolytic aluminum plant and supporting wind power, Akmola 450 MW wind power project portfolio, as well as energy projects jointly developed by Samruk Energy, China Energy Overseas Investment, and Sany Renewable Energy; At the same time, a special investment fund will be established in Astana International Financial Center, and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan has reached a financing arrangement with China Construction Bank Astana Branch, involving automobile manufacturing, chemical production, and real estate projects.

Tokayev proposed to hold the forum in September every year, named Almaty Investment Dialogue: Kazakhstan China, to create a permanent platform for direct exchanges between the business communities of the two countries. The gathering attended by about 300 companies is not only an opportunity for Kazakhstan and China, but also injects new growth momentum into the broader Eurasian region.Editor/Yang Meiling