The Deputy Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and China discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin met with Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Liu Guozhong in Astana.

The parties reviewed the progress of implementing the agreements reached following the talks between the heads of Kazakhstan and China held this summer in Astana and Tianjin.

One of the key issues on the meeting's agenda was increasing mutual trade, particularly in agriculture. According to Chinese statistics, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China amounted to $35.4 billion (up 7.4%) from January to September 2025, including $13.5 billion in Kazakhstan's exports to China (up 9.9%) and $21.9 billion in imports from China (up 6.9%).

"The Chinese market is of great interest for Kazakhstan's grain exports. "Over the past two years, grain supplies to China have increased more than fivefold, reaching 1.4 million tons. "To fulfill the instructions of our heads of state to increase grain supplies to China to 2 million tons, we must take additional measures," noted Serik Zhumangarin.

To achieve this, he emphasized, it is necessary to increase the capacity of border grain receiving points, as certain restrictions on the Chinese side still remain, significantly slowing logistics.

The parties discussed the potential for expanding crop and livestock exports from Kazakhstan to China. Currently, protocols are in place between the countries for the export of 34 types of Kazakh crop and livestock products to the Chinese market. 2,865 Kazakh enterprises are included in the register of exporters admitted to the Chinese market.

The Kazakh side has already submitted applications to open exports of melons and cottonseed to China. At the meeting, it was proposed to begin the process of coordinating phytosanitary requirements for these new products.

Particular attention was paid to increasing the volume and variety of livestock and processed product exports, particularly chilled lamb and beef, meat by-products, and dried mare's milk.

The issue of lifting restrictions on chilled meat exports from the northwestern and central regions of Kazakhstan following inspections by Kazakhstan's veterinary services was also discussed.

Liu Guozhong expressed his willingness to continue working together to implement high-level agreements, including strengthening coordination between relevant agencies on agricultural product supplies to the markets of the two countries.