Ambassador of Kazakhstan to China Shakhrat Nuryshev Photo: Courtesy of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China

Kazakhstan has tripled its investment in education and science and will continue strengthening the role of artificial intelligence through global academic cooperation, which was recently announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. 

In an exclusive media interview, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to China Shakhrat Nuryshev shared his point of view on the core significance of deepening academic exchanges between China and Kazakhstan for consolidating the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan.

Academic exchanges are one of the key pillars of the everlasting comprehensive strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China. Located in the center of the Eurasian continent, Kazakhstan has historically played the role of a bridge between different civilizations. Today this potential is actively manifested in the field of education and science, said Nuryshev.

Over the past three years, three branches of Chinese universities have opened in Kazakhstan: Northwestern Polytechnical University; Beijing Language and Culture University, a global center for Chinese language teaching; and City University of Hong Kong.

In addition, Kazakhstan has hosted three Luban Workshops - more than in any other country in the world. They have provided students with access to modern Chinese technologies, equipment and applied engineering skills.

In May 2025, the first-ever "Study in Kazakhstan" education fair was held in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "The event became a platform for establishing direct contacts between Kazakh and Chinese universities," Nuryshev said.

All this has created a space of trust between the two peoples, bringing young people closer together and forming a foundation for long-term stability of bilateral relations, he noted. 

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has taken the initiative to promote the mutual recognition of academic degrees and diplomas within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 

China and Kazakhstan have already carried out cooperation in projects such as Luban Workshops and joint doctoral training programs. 

Kazakhstan has consistently strengthened the institutional foundation of cooperation within the SCO. Over the past two years, its universities have launched more than 20 dual-degree programs, including partnerships with China, India and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan has initiated the creation of a common qualification recognition space within the SCO. "To this end, we are preparing the ratification of a convention that will unify diploma recognition among the region's countries," Nuryshev said. 

In June, the heads of state of China and Kazakhstan agreed to establish the subcommittee on education, a mechanism that will coordinate all educational initiatives of the two countries.

Moreover, Kazakhstan has declared 2025 the "Year of Blue-Collar Professions" to highlight the importance of vocational careers. 

The country is advancing the reform of vocational and technical education, and some of its institutions are proactively seeking cooperation with China in fields such as new energy vehicles. 

Nuryshev said that the cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in vocational education will accurately align with the industrial needs of both sides to reserve talents, saying that Kazakhstan is carrying out a large-scale reform of vocational and technical education, in which cooperation with China plays a key role.