The Astana International Forum (AIF) is held on May 29 to 30 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Photo: Courtesy of Aqorda

The Astana International Forum (AIF) opened on Thursday in Astana, Kazakhstan, gathering over 1,000 attendees, including heads of state, corporate executives, distinguished scholars and delegates from more than 70 nations, to address pressing global issues such as energy security, climate action, geopolitical cooperation, international trade, technological innovation and sustainable development — reflecting the interconnected nature of today's global landscape and the need for collaborative, cross-sectoral approaches.

These discussions align with AIF's mission to foster economic resilience and build new partnerships, with China as a key partner for Kazakhstan.

In his opening remarks, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the importance of dialogue and cooperation between countries amid growing global polarization, which is fueling conflicts and tensions worldwide.

"At a time of increasing global uncertainties, what matters most is how we respond," Tokayev said, stressing the AIF's role as a platform rooted in mutual respect.

Tokayev added that Kazakhstan is actively contributing to global cooperation. "We are entering a new era of global cooperation, where trust among people, knowledge sharing and civic collaboration will shape international relations," he said. 

"Kazakhstan is ready to serve as a connector of ideas, a builder of consensus and a trusted partner across regions and cultures."Alibek Kuantyrov, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, told the Global Times during the forum that considering China's increased collaboration with Central Asian countries, he has high expectations for the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit. He noted that Kazakhstan plans to host a trade and economic forum with Chinese officials during the summit to explore the feasibility of concrete investment projects. 

"Central Asian countries are deeply engaged in cooperation with China, which is vital as we jointly implement several major initiatives," he said. "We are focused on enhancing efficiency, particularly by leveraging Chinese technologies, and we anticipate significant outcomes." Kuantyrov also stressed the importance of maintaining stable relations with China to effectively manage external geopolitical risks.The 2025 AIF also featured discussions on regional connectivity, with a focus on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or Middle Corridor, which connects China to the European Union via Central Asia. As a critical element of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this corridor reinforces Kazakhstan's role as a vital transit hub.

The TITR begins at China's port of Lianyungang, running through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Georgia to Türkiye and European countries. It has become a vital artery for transporting goods from Southeast Asia and China to Europe, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Kazakhstan aims to raise annual cargo shipments via the TITR to 10 million tons a year, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu announced in March.

The economy and finance theme at AIF 2025 covered global trade, supply chains and economic resilience, where China's economic influence in Central Asia is significant.

China remains Kazakhstan's largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded $43.8 billion, marking a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase. Rail freight transported between the two countries surpassed 32 million tons to set a new record. China's investment stock in Kazakhstan reached $24 billion, reported by Xinhua.

China-Kazakhstan cooperation in clean and green energy development, which has yielded notable results, was also highlighted during the forum.

A new factory for the production of wind turbines and energy storage systems is under construction in Kazakhstan in partnership with China's Envision Energy, with the groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 17 in the Khorgos-Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone, marking the start of construction. The project is a key part of Kazakhstan's strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The factory, set to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026, will support national emission reduction goals and increase the share of renewable energy in the country's energy mix, Xinhua reported.

Experts participating in a panel discussion titled "Trade as a Weapon: The Future of Economic Statecraft" during the forum emphasized that trade wars produce no winners. Panelists agreed that high tariffs imposed by the US on its trading partners, the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical tensions are driving a more fragmented global landscape governed by zero-sum thinking — a scenario that must be avoided.

The Global Times observed that two chess robots developed by China's SenseTime were on display at the forum venue, sparking curiosity among many foreign delegates who lined up to try them. 

Jurgen Rigterink, first vice president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, who played against the tech-driven opponent, told the Global Times he had long been aware of this innovative Chinese-developed system. He remarked that China's leading-edge progress in robotics is widely recognized.

Alongside the AIF, the 2025 China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Forum took place in Astana on Thursday, themed "Building a Closer China-Central Asia Community with a Shared Future." The forum aimed to enhance media collaboration between China and Central Asian nations, strengthen partnerships, build trust in the media landscape and promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It supports AIF's overarching objectives of advancing cross-border dialogue and cooperation.

During the forum, on May 29, the Y29 train carrying more than 200 passengers departed from Xi'an Railway Station in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, heading west to Almaty, Kazakhstan. This marked the official launch of the China-Central Asia cultural tourism train (Xi'an-Almaty section), a flagship event of the  "China tourism year in Kazakhstan."

This special train is not just a means of transportation but has also been transformed into a "mobile cultural exchange corridor." During the journey from Xi'an to Almaty, daily cultural exchange activities are arranged in the carriages, including traditional Chinese medicine wellness sessions, handicraft-making experiences, educational lectures and calligraphy and painting creation. Additionally, cultural performances with regional characteristics are held, such as modernized Qinqiang operas, cross-talk shows, and solo folk music performances.

The Astana International Forum (AIF) is held on May 29 to 30 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Photo: Courtesy of Aqorda

 

The Astana International Forum (AIF) is held on May 29 to 30 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Photo: Courtesy of Aqorda