Officials from China and Kazakhstan moved to remove obstacles to their bilateral commerce, with a focus on easing restrictions related to the supply of thermally processed meat. The details came from a briefing by the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, summarizing talks between Arman Shakkaliev, the minister in charge, and Sun Yuning, the deputy head of China’s General Administration of Customs. The message from the meeting underscored a shared intent to accelerate trade flows and modernize the framework governing animal-origin products between the two countries.
The Chinese side signaled its readiness to lift current limits on shipments of thermally processed meat from Kazakhstan, according to the ministry’s release. This move would potentially open a faster route for Kazakh producers to access the vast Chinese market, aligning with broader efforts to diversify export channels and strengthen regional supply chains, as noted in the official briefing (Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan).
Discussions extended to broadening the export catalog for livestock and plant products, with participants examining ways to expand the range of goods eligible for cross-border trade. During the talks, Shakkaliev also met with several Chinese firms that have expressed strong interest in investing heavily in Kazakhstan’s meat sector. The aim is to boost processing capacity and, in turn, raise exports to China. Negotiations on investment cooperation were described as ongoing, signaling a pathway toward deeper industrial collaboration and workforce development in Kazakhstan’s agri-food sector (Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan).
Shakkaliev emphasized the intention to begin harmonizing export standards for chilled meat and thermally processed meat products. The goal is to establish compatible veterinary and sanitary controls that would facilitate smoother shipments while maintaining stringent safety and quality checks. In parallel, Chinese representatives indicated a willingness to visit Kazakhstan to review the veterinary service framework for disease control, including foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza, a step designed to build mutual trust and ensure the credibility of sanitary measures in both directions (Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan).
On the broader trade landscape, China has remained a key trading partner for Kazakhstan, and developments from mid-2023 show this corridor strengthening in the context of regional supply chains. Available international trade data for 2022 show China’s growing role in Central Asia, with trade volumes reaching a substantial level as calculated by the European Commission and the International Trade Centre. The latest assessments flag that while the United States and Russia have strong ties with Kazakhstan, the dynamics with China continue to expand, driven by a mutual interest in secure, rules-based trade and investment in primary sectors such as meat processing, livestock, and agriculture (Australian and regional trade sources cited through official data aggregations; attribution to the European Commission and the International Trade Centre).
Earlier reports indicated that trading volumes between Russia and Kazakhstan had faced challenges related to sanctions, a context that has spurred Kazakhstan to seek broader diversification of its export routes. The ongoing conversations with Chinese authorities and enterprises aim to reinforce this diversification strategy, reduce dependency on any single partner, and promote more predictable, long-term growth in bilateral commerce. As both sides push for concrete agreements, observers note the importance of aligning veterinary controls, transport standards, and product specifications across borders to support a robust and transparent trade regime (Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan).
In summary, officials from Kazakhstan and China are moving beyond pledges to concrete steps: lifting specific restrictions on meat imports, expanding the product list for cross-border sales, inviting investment that would boost processing capacity, and starting the alignment of export standards. The process includes joint reviews of veterinary services and disease control measures, with site visits contemplated to validate Kazakhstan’s capabilities. If these negotiations translate into formal agreements, the relationship between Kazakhstan and China could become a more resilient pillar of regional trade, offering Kazakh producers new access points to a large and growing market while providing China with diversified sources of safe, processed meat products. The conversations continue with a focus on practical outcomes, measurable milestones, and an emphasis on compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary norms (Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan).