Yin Zonghua, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. [Photo/He Zhiwei]

China and Kazakhstan enterprises signed cooperation agreements on projects worth 200 million dollars during Xinjiang Week of the Astana Expo.

The special week, with a theme of “green energy, beautiful Xinjiang”, was launched in the China Pavilion on June 28.

Vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade(CCPIT) Yin Zonghua, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gromov Sergei Nikolaevich, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Hanhui, and Vice-chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region Zhao Chongjiu attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Another 200 Chinese and foreign guests, including leading officials of Kazakhstan business associations and representatives of Chinese and foreign enterprises, also attended the opening ceremony.

Yin Zonghua, on behalf of the China Pavilion and the CCPIT, was pleased to speak at the opening of Xinjiang Week.

He said that the Chinese government actively supports Kazakhstan in hosting the Astana Expo, and attaches great importance to China’s participation in the event. He noted that since its opening on June 10, the China Pavilion has become one of the most popular international pavilions, and has received more than 80,000 visitors from all over the world. Xinjiang Week is rich in content and form, and embodies rich national customs and local characteristics. He said he hopes that the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will take full advantage of the opportunity to further expand cooperation with neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, and play a greater role in promoting the development of the Belt and Road and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan.

Gromov Sergei thanked China for its support for the Expo. He hoped the event will help promote the development of Kazakhstan’s domestic industry, and expand cooperation between Kazakhstani and Chinese entrepreneurs in various fields.

Zhang Hanhui said that Xinjiang and Kazakhstan connect closely with each other through their similar social characteristics. As key areas of the Silk Road Economic Belt, they have great potential and unique advantages in mutual cooperation. He hoped that through the Xinjiang Week event people of Kazakhstan will have a better understanding of Xinjiang to further promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

Zhao Chongjiu, deputy governor of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said that Kazakhstan has been Xinjiang’s largest business partner for the past 25 years. The region will take the opportunity of the Xinjiang Week event to carry out President Xi’s proposals on the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, promoting further connectivity in energy and infrastructure construction and fostering pragmatic cooperation between enterprises of both sides.

During the event, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region introduced the development of a new energy industry in Xinjiang as part of its foreign economic and trade policies and investment environment. Several cooperation agreements were signed, including an agricultural trade agreement between a biotechnology company in Khorgas and a Kazakhstan agribusiness company, an export trade agreement between a Khorgas trade company and a Kazakhstan export company, and a tourism cooperation agreement between travel agencies in Xinjiang and Kazakhstan.

During the three-day event, trade promotion fairs, tourism fairs, and Xinjiang cultural performances were held to publicize Xinjiang’s image and promote cooperation with foreign institutions.