Renowned Sinologist Adil Kaukenov, in his Telegram channel, sheds light on the profound impact of long-established connections in Chinese society, known as «guanxi» (关系) or «ren mai» (人脉).
Today, we witness reports of billion-dollar deals, groundbreaking projects, new memoranda, and attracted investments, all promising future revenues for the state’s treasury and opportunities for the economic prosperity of ordinary Kazakhs.
Yet, the success of Kazakh diplomacy in its relations with China owes much to a personal touch. Specifically, over the years of his diplomatic service, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has managed to build a reputation within the Chinese establishment, leaning on the opinions of respected individuals.
Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich continues to adeptly utilize the peculiarities of Chinese culture and narratives to advance Kazakhstan’s interests in China. During his ongoing visit, he met with his former teacher from Beijing Language and Culture University (北语), Professor Liu Shicin: «I am delighted to be back within the walls of my university after 40 years and to meet you in good health… The knowledge you shared with your students is priceless.»
This is a significant move from an information-promotion perspective. In Confucianism, respecting one’s teacher is the foundation. Despite his high presidential status, he met an elderly teacher and extended warm wishes, a touching act that paints the image of Kazakhstan’s leader and its people as individuals of high moral standing who know how to express gratitude.
Chinese media outlets have noticed this meeting, and scrolling through Chinese commentators’ opinions, the overwhelming majority express positivity and even emotional sentiments, which is not a common occurrence in the realm of social media.
In essence, President Tokayev is confidently gaining popularity in Chinese society, creating an exceptionally favorable environment for Kazakh businessmen and projects.
