According to official statistics, China has overtaken Russia as the main trading partner of all five Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan is the latest Central Asian country for Beijing to overtake Moscow in terms of annual trade.
According to reports, in the first nine months of 2023, China accounted for 21.3 percent of Kazakhstan’s total foreign trade, worth $21.7 billion. statistics Compiled by Kazakhstan’s National Statistical Institute. Russia’s trade turnover share reached 18.6 percent ($18.9 billion). While most of Kazakhstan’s exports to China were raw materials and natural resources, Beijing’s trade consisted mainly of finished goods such as household goods, clothing, and automobiles. The Energy Prom news agency characterized trade relations between Kazakhstan and China as “one step forward, two steps back,” citing flat energy prices and Kazakhstan’s “raw materials advantage” in exports.
China’s bilateral trade figures are markedly different from Kazakhstan’s figures. According to China’s special envoy to Kazakhstan, Zhang Xiao, Bilateral trade volume in the first 10 months of 2023 reached $32.7 billion, representing a 28.5 percent increase in trade volume over the same period last year.Kazakhstan media report The figure for the period was $24.3 billion.
Meanwhile, Chinese government transit trade with Kazakhstan has doubled in the past year and now stands at 1.5 million tons, according to Chinese statistics. Chinese authorities said they aim to increase transit trade through Kazakhstan to 7.5 million tonnes by 2029.
According to the Statistics Authority of Uzbekistan, China accounted for 21.3% of the trade value share with Uzbekistan (equivalent to $12.23 billion) in the first 11 months of 2023. report. Uzbekistan’s exports to China totaled $2.27 billion, and imports totaled $9.96 billion. Russia is Uzbekistan’s second largest trading partner, with a 15.5% share (equivalent to $8.86 billion). During the same period, Uzbekistan’s natural gas exports to China were worth $503 million, almost half the amount in the same period in 2022.
Long delays have been reported at some land border crossings between Kazakhstan and China. For example, waiting times for trucks and cars attempting to cross the Nur Jori border crossing can last more than 11 days. according to Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. The industry group said trucks carrying goods are often repeatedly inspected by customs officials “without explanation” due to complaints from drivers. Authorities recently began operating the Nur Jori checkpoint 24 hours a day to address border congestion issues.
Zakon.kz Outlet report Dulhan Dilmanov, the former head of Kazakhstan’s border service, was found guilty of “abuse of power” and sentenced to four years in prison for participating in a scheme involving the illegal transport of goods from China to Kazakhstan.
by eurasianet.org
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