Almas Seitakynov, consul general of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong and Macao, gives an exclusive interview to China Daily on June 27, 2023. (LESLEY LIU / CHINA DAILY)

Almas Seitakynov, consul general of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong and Macao, said that his country has greatly benefited from the landmark Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and is expecting to cooperate further with inland Chinese provinces in green energy, education, and infrastructure projects. .

Seitakynov is among about 70 foreign diplomats and business leaders from Hong Kong who joined a week-long tour to Henan and Shaanxi provinces, which ends on Friday.

We fully support this wonderful initiative as it provides many opportunities not only for Kazakhstan, but also for other Silk Road countries and regions.

Almas Seitakynov, consul general of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong and Macao

The delegation, led by Liu Guangyuan, head of the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, aims to enhance the participants' understanding of the two hinterland provinces, as well as helping them tap into business opportunities under the BRI.

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In an interview with China Daily on Tuesday, Seitakynov said BRI has a special meaning for his country as it was first proposed in Kazakhstan a decade ago. "We fully support this wonderful initiative as it provides many opportunities not only for Kazakhstan, but also for other Silk Road countries and regions," he said.

Having been boosted by the BRI, the volume of trade between Kazakhstan and China surpassed $31 billion last year, representing a 23.6 percent increase compared to the previous year. The two countries' areas of cooperation include agriculture, petrochemicals, finance, and green energy.

The consul general also pointed out that new energy is a priority for Kazakhstan-China cooperation, citing Yutong, a Henan-based vehicle manufacturer that exported 100 electric buses to Kazakhstan in 2020. The company also established a joint venture company with local partners in the country's Karaganda region to produce electric- and gas-powered buses.

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Seitakynov visited the Yutong plant with the delegation on Sunday, witnessing electric buses' assembling and testing processes. He believes Kazakhstan can have closer cooperation with Yutong and other EV producers in central and western China to promote new-energy vehicles.

As Kazakhstan borders northwest China, many key bilateral cooperation projects involve companies and institutions from China's central and western regions. For instance, Aiju, a Xi'an-based foodstuff company built a logistics park in north Kazakhstan for the export of local agricultural products .

Given the economic connection, many Kazakh students study in Henan and Shaanxi provinces. Some Chinese universities, such as the Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi's capital, have also established branch schools in Kazakhstan, Seitakynov said.

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In May, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attended the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an and made a state visit to China.

Leaders from the two countries signed a series of agreements to promote economic and cultural cooperation, including a bilateral visa exemption arrangement that allows residents from either country to enjoy a visa-free travel for up to 30 days.

Seitakynov underscored that the visa-free arrangement will enable people from both countries to have more communication and explore new business opportunities together.