Kazakhstan, China trade reached record $41 bln in 2023 - Tokayev

ASTANA. March 28 (Interfax) - Trade between Kazakhstan and China hit a record $41 billion in 2023, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

"Kazakhstan accounts for 50% of China's trade and investment activity in the region. Last year, trade between Kazakhstan and China reached a record $41 billion," Tokayev said at a plenary session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which he attended as a special guest, according a statement released by the presidential press service.

"In 2023, cargo transportation between our countries increased by 22% to almost 30 million tonnes," the president said.

The One Belt One Road Initiative was first announced during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan more than ten years ago, Tokayev said.

"This project serves as a main bridge between the East and the West, and as much as 80% of all cargo transportation between China and Europe by land goes through Kazakhstan. This is our critical advantage that we should use fully. Our own investment activities are strategically linked to the One Belt One Road Initiative and are aimed at creating modern multimodal, environmentally friendly and reliable infrastructure," Tokayev said.