A number of meetings were held by the Director of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerkin Tukumov in Xi’an, where he is on a working visit to participate in the forum of think tanks “Central Asia – China”. Meetings were held with the leadership of Shaanxi Pedagogical University, the Institute for the Study of Central Asia at Shaanxi Pedagogical University, as well as the Silk Road Research Institute at Northwest University.
Thus, on September 19, during a meeting with the leadership of Shaanxi Pedagogical University, the parties exchanged views on a number of issues, including the development of relations between Kazakhstan and China. Director of KazISS in his speech noted: “A special place in the network of contacts of KazISS, of course, is occupied by neighboring countries, including China. We believe that through coordinated and productive work with our neighbors we can achieve greater and faster progress in our development”. Yerkin Tukumov noted that Kazakhstan’s neighborhood with China gives great opportunities for the development of relations in the economy: “Only for the first half of this year the volume of bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $16.3 billion. The growth compared to the last period amounted to 20.6%”.
Speaking about social relations between our countries, Director of KazISS noted that the existence of direct flights demonstrates a steady desire to develop relations between the states in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, including the educational sphere: “Young people become bridges between our cultures, they are interested in gaining knowledge in the leading universities of China”.
Dong Zhibao, Vice President of Shaanxi Pedagogical University, in turn, said: “Our university attaches very great importance to international interaction, having established extensive international cooperation in implementing various exchange programs with more than 70 institutions around the world, including Kazakh universities such as Taraz Pedagogical University and Turan University. We hope that our relations will deepen”.
At the same time, an expert meeting was held with the participation of representatives of Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Institute of Foreign Policy Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, International University of Astana, as well as experts from the Institute of Central Asian Studies at Shaanxi Pedagogical University. The meeting was devoted to exchange of expert opinions on the international agenda, development of relations between Kazakhstan and China, as well as the countries of Central Asia. The parties exchanged research visions and focus topics on the study of interstate relations. The participants noted the importance of developing research contacts, exchanging public research papers to expand expert awareness.
On September 20, a joint meeting of the China-Central Asia Alliance of think tanks was held at the Silk Road Research Institute of Northwest University in Xi’an. The meeting was dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Among the guests of the meeting were experts from leading think tanks of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as representatives of Northwest University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The participants of the meeting outlined their vision of joint work to explore new opportunities for the development of interstate relations between the countries of CA and China. The parties noted the importance of developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation. According to experts, it is necessary to develop inter-civil relations for the inflow of investments. Among them is the forthcoming opening of visa-free regime between the RK and the PRC, notes the KazISS director: “This year we are opening a new page in our relations, focusing on social interaction. On a reciprocal basis, we are lifting visa restrictions to citizens of both countries for business, private and tourist travel”.
The working visit of experts from Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Xi’an continues. On September 21, Director of KazISS is expected to speak at the forum “Central Asia – China” and in the subforum “Eurasian Economic Cooperation: in a New Era”.
