What are China’s goals in Kazakhstan – Adil Kaukenov, a famous Kazakh Orientalist discusses the topic in his telegram-channel.

Literal Translation:

Why did President Tokayev say he had high expectations in connection with the China+Central Asia summit of May 18-19?

The answer is shown on the chart below.  China experts have been aware of that for long time.  Despite close location to Kazakhstan and common opinion, China’s investment activities in Kazakhstan do not feature in the Kazakh Foreign Investment Top Five. 

Chart above shows countries leading in investments in Kazakh economy.  First position is held by the Netherlands.  China is the seventh in the row, after South Korea, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland and USA.

In the time of pandemic Chinese investments slowed down, and in 2022 the amount of investments from China reduced by 25%.

Warm welcome shown to Xi in Astana and visa-free regime for citizens of China established in 2022 – those are just some minor steps to change the existing post-pandemic situation and invest more Chinese investments. 

The summit in China was supposed to become an event dedicated to institutional establishment of new level of mutual relations at the regional level. How successful all those measures were, we will learn not even in 2023, but in 2024-2025.

China’s goal in Kazakhstan is to outplay investments from Korea and Russia, not to mention the USA.

As to the USA.

Companies from USA feature second in the investment rating in Kazakhstan. In just one year, they doubled investments into Kazakh economy 

Investors from China will have to design something very serious.