Ministry of Finance: Kazakhstan-China Financial Cooperation and Infrastructure Projects

According to the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the bilateral meeting took place in Almaty during the Second Tianshan Forum on Regional Economic Cooperation in Central Asia between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin and China's Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an, joined by Kazakhstan's Minister of Finance Madi Takiyev, Export-Import Bank of China President Wang Chunying, CITIC Group Chairman Xi Guohua, and Xinjiang Vice Governor Zhang Yingchun.

What financial frameworks and instruments were examined by the parties?

The forum served as a platform to transition toward a new model of financial interaction, expand two-way investment flows, and roll out joint financial instruments. A central agenda topic was examining the establishment of a Kazakhstan-China joint private equity fund with financial institutions from both nations, alongside the integration of equity contributions, debt instruments, and credit insurance financing to lay the groundwork for executing major strategic projects.

What financing approach was discussed for the Trans-Caspian route?

The delegations placed special emphasis on increasing the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). The Kazakh side proposed exploring a dedicated joint fund to support corridor expansion, highlighting the necessity of engaging commercial banks and sovereign financial institutions from both countries to discuss possible arrangements for sustained funding for key hubs along the transport corridor.

Which priority infrastructure projects were discussed?

The parties discussed the feasibility of financing major strategic infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan. Key projects reviewed include: the extension and construction of Almaty's metro network, urban transport infrastructure in Astana, the "Centre – West" trunk highway linking the country's heartland with western ports, and the modernization of municipal water supply facilities in the capital. Both parties affirmed their intention to foster direct communication channels between financial institutions.

FAQ

Which Chinese institutions attended this high-level financial meeting?
In addition to the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, participants included senior leadership from the Export-Import Bank of China, CITIC Group, and the regional government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

What is the primary role of the joint private equity fund?
The proposed fund would focus on direct investment and industrial development and, if established, could work alongside long-term bank lending and export credit insurance to support Kazakhstan's priority industries and transport corridors; it remains under discussion.

Which major highway project was selected for bilateral cooperation?
The negotiations explicitly incorporated the construction of Kazakhstan's "Centre – West" (Центр – Запад) trunk highway.

Which urban municipal projects were highlighted?
The project pipeline covers the expansion of the Almaty metro, as well as modernizing Astana's urban transport network and municipal tap water supply system.

What does this signify for Chinese enterprises involved in Kazakh projects?
It indicates that talks further connected intergovernmental priority infrastructure projects with policy banks and major Chinese industrial groups in financing discussions.

Related reading

• More industry and policy updates: Kazakhstan investment and project news
• Setting up a project company: Company registration in Kazakhstan

Sources

• Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan (gov.kz), 2 November: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/minfin/press/news/details/1322328?lang=ru