Kazakh foreign minister visits Beijing for talks with China’s Wang Yi

Kazakhstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev met with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing where the duo held all important bilateral talks.

For Kosherbayev, the trip to China marks one of his first engagements since he was appointed into the position in September.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a broad range of issues, including trade and investment ties, transport, energy, and technological innovation.

The talks, described by both sides as constructive and friendly, reaffirmed their shared interest in deepening practical cooperation.

According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Beijing expressed its readiness to expand engagement with Kazakhstan in key sectors and noted the country’s active role within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Wang Yi also briefed his Kazakh counterpart on the outcomes of the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which outlined China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development from 2026 to 2030.

“China will continue to deepen reforms and pursue high-level openness. Our high-quality development will bring new opportunities to all partners, including Kazakhstan,” Wang Yi said.

As part of his visit, Kosherbayev toured the Kazakhstan Cultural Centre in China, established under an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2023.

Officially opened in May this year, the centre has become a platform for promoting Kazakh culture and strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries.

Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations. According to China’s General Administration of Customs, trade between the two nations grew by 5.7% year on year in the first eight months of 2025, reaching $30.68 billion. In 2024, total trade amounted to $43.82 billion.

A week earlier, Kosherbayev visited Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - his first foreign trip since taking office.

The two consecutive visits, to Russia and China, reflect Kazakhstan’s careful effort to maintain a diplomatic balance between its two largest neighbours.

For Astana, this approach underscores a longstanding multi-vector foreign policy - one that seeks to preserve equilibrium between major powers while asserting Kazakhstan’s independent and pragmatic role in an increasingly complex regional landscape.

Tags

News Politics Kazakhstan China