On June 16, the Second Central Asia–China Industrial and Investment Cooperation Forum was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alibek Kuantyrov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Zhou Haibing, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC), delivered keynote speeches. CNPC Chairman Dai Houliang also attended the event and signed cooperation documents.

Sklyar highlighted the vast potential for cooperation between Central Asia and China, noting that multifaceted collaboration has reached new heights under the shared commitment of both nations’ leaders. China is an important investment and trade partner of Kazakhstan, and both countries have maintained high-level and fruitful cooperation. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Kazakhstan aims to deepen collaboration with China in cross-border logistics, agriculture, and energy, backed by favorable policies to facilitate major projects and reinforce its position as a dependable partner.

At the event, CNPC reached four agreements with its Kazakh partners on the expansion of Shymkent Oil Refinery, the implementation of the Aktobe urea project, deepening natural gas cooperation and supporting the North-1 block, and Urikhtau gas processing. These agreements were included as the outcomes of the Forum. According to the agreements, CNPC will expand cooperation in natural gas exploration and development, refining and chemical etc., in a bid to promote high-quality energy development in Kazakhstan.

Moving forward, CNPC will fully implement the consensus reached and execute energy projects soundly by expanding cooperation areas, strengthening inter-connectivity, and deepening mutual energy cooperation for more tangible results, contributing to a mutually beneficial China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.