Tengrinews.kz — Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has impressed the media with his flawless command of the Chinese language. Local press concurrently hailed his meeting with Xi Jinping as a major milestone in bilateral relations, noting Kazakhstan’s growing role in Central Asia.
"A Great Honor for Me"
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived on a working visit to Shanghai.
The Head of State personally thanked President Xi Jinping in Chinese, sparking a wave of enthusiastic coverage in the country's media.
Photo by the Akorda press service
Speaking at the World AI Conference on July 16, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also addressed Xi Jinping in Chinese:
"It is a great honor for me to participate in the World AI Conference. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to you for the warm welcome."
"Speaks Clearly and Without an Accent"
The Chinese publication Baijiahao noted that Tokayev communicated with Chinese representatives without interpreters. Chinese journalists particularly emphasized the quality of his speech.
"He does not just speak Chinese; he demonstrates clear pronunciation," Baijiahao writes.
The authors also recalled that Tokayev studied in Beijing and spent nearly eight years working in China in a diplomatic capacity.
"The President of Kazakhstan enjoys Chinese cuisine and plays table tennis, for which he is called an 'old friend of the Chinese people' and a true 'China expert' ('Zhongguotong')," the publication states.
Photo by the Akorda press service
Notably, "Zhongguotong" is an honorary term used in China to describe foreigners who have mastered the language and possess a thorough understanding of the country's culture, history, and mentality.
Kazakhstan-China Ties Strengthening
As reported by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi Jinping stated that relations between China and Kazakhstan continue to strengthen and have reached a high level..
According to him, cooperation between the two countries holds great potential, and Beijing and Astana must continue to develop interaction, coordinate development strategies, and expand practical cooperation.
Photo by the Akorda press service
The strengthening of economic ties between Kazakhstan and China was also noted by All China Review. The outlet reports that in 2025, trade turnover between the countries reached a record $48 billion, and the parties plan to increase it to $100 billion by 2030.
"The meeting between Tokayev and Xi is grounded in rapidly expanding economic relations... China has been Kazakhstan's largest trading partner since independence in 1991, and by mid-2025, the total volume of direct Chinese investment in Kazakhstan's economy amounted to approximately $11.4 billion. According to Eurasian Development Bank data, this is the largest share among all Central Asian countries and nearly a third of all Chinese capital invested in the region," the publication says.
Furthermore, over 85 percent of overland cargo between China and Europe passes through Kazakhstan, making the country a key transit link for the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Kazakhstan is also a major energy supplier to China, providing about one-fifth of the country's natural gas imports," All China Review emphasized.
Why China is Betting on Kazakhstan
According to All China Review, the meeting between Tokayev and Xi Jinping marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations. The publication notes that Kazakhstan's economic weight is increasingly influencing how Beijing perceives Central Asia.
Photo by the Akorda press service
"Kazakhstan is not just the largest economy among its neighbors. The country is the most diversified and most integrated into the international system, maintaining leadership across virtually all structural, financial, and investment indicators worth tracking," the media outlet writes.
The Chinese publication notes that by the end of 2025, Kazakhstan's nominal GDP reached $306 billion — accounting for more than half of the entire Central Asian economy.
According to the authors, Kazakhstan remains not only the largest but also the most diversified economy in the region.
Positions in International Rankings
All China Review also highlighted international rankings.
According to International Monetary Fund forecasts, Kazakhstan's economy will grow to $360.4 billion in 2026, allowing the country to rank 49th in the world.
Additionally, Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in the Harvard Economic Complexity Index and the Index of Economic Freedom, outperforming all neighboring countries in the region.
According to the publication, this confirms that Kazakhstan's leadership is based not only on the size of its economy but also on its level of institutional development, competitiveness, and ability to attract long-term investment.
"This competitive position is further bolstered by an ambitious reform agenda aimed at sustaining growth and creating a more predictable business environment. Under President Tokayev's leadership, Kazakhstan is implementing measures to modernize public administration, strengthen market institutions, and improve the investment climate," the media outlet reports.
As a reminder, on July 17, the President will participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), themed "Partnership in Artificial Intelligence for a Bright Future".