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

Editor's Note: 

With the "two sessions" underway in Beijing this week, Global Times reporter Dong Feng has exclusively interviewed some ambassadors to China to pursue their thoughts on the meeting. From 2026, China will start to implement the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for economic and social development. Focusing on the most noteworthy development opportunities to be unleashed from China's 15th Five-Year Plan, the envoys share their perspectives for bilateral cooperation.

In his second term as ambassador of Kazakhstan to China, Shakhrat Nuryshev told the Global Times that he is impressed by China's people-centered development, noting that it offers valuable lessons for the world.

The fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress opened on March 5, preceded by the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on March 4.

Ambassador Nuryshev said the two sessions have historically determined the strategic direction of China's development and mapped out measures to improve the well-being of the people.

"I have attended the 'two sessions' many times, and each time I have been deeply impressed by the highly rigorous organization, discipline, and depth of discussion. What is particularly noteworthy is the connection between strategic decisions and the actual tasks in various regions, as well as the long-term planning vision," said Nuryshev.

For Kazakhstan, a strategic partner and friendly neighbor of China, the decisions made at the "two sessions" are of great practical significance, as they establish a general framework for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation, infrastructure project alignment, and regional collaboration. "I pay particular attention to issues such as economic growth, high-tech development, digital economy, green transformation, and development of western China, including the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. At the same time, China's further opening-up and related initiatives to advance the Belt and Road Initiative are also of great significance," Nuryshev said. 

Even though two neighboring countries might take different approaches to achieve modernization, the ambassador noted that ''the goal is the same: to build a sustainable development system and continuously improve the quality of life for the people." 

Evaluating measures that China has taken to promote high-level opening up, Nuryshev has noticed some changes. 

"In the past, foreign experts understood China's opening up to the outside world as attracting foreign investment into manufacturing and technology sectors and expanding commodity exports; however, the current situation has changed significantly." 

China is gradually transforming from "the world's factory" to be the "world's market." The Ministry of Commerce's statement on providing foreign-invested enterprises with equal opportunities to participate in government procurement and bidding should be seen as an important measure to promote a level playing field. "This policy will help introduce global competition mechanisms domestically, aiming to improve the efficiency and product quality of domestic enterprises," Nuryshev said. 

An equally important policy focus is that China is now shifting its focus in international trade from tariffs and non-tariff barriers to the integration and unification of regulatory rules. "As China's permanent comprehensive strategic partner, Kazakhstan is willing to actively support China's initiatives to promote mutual openness, develop bilateral and multilateral trade, expand investment cooperation, and jointly promote high-quality cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative," Ambassador Nuryshev said.

Prior to assuming the role of ambassador, Nuryshev worked in China at various stages of his diplomatic tenure. During this period, he has witnessed China's development at different stages. "I'm able to compare how cities and regions have changed and how people's living standards have greatly improved," he said. 

During this term, he has visited many cities in China. "Each city showcased the multi-layered and diverse nature of contemporary China in its own way," said Nuryshev. 

To him, the most impressive part is that China's development is tangible at every level. 

"The development is reflected in urban planning, including convenient transportation, clean and tidy streets, well-designed public spaces, convenient services, and a focus on the comfort of families, the elderly, and all residents. In many places, it is evident that urban infrastructure is truly built around the people," he said.

China's systematic measures to improve people's livelihood demonstrate a high degree of integrated and long-term vision. Over the past few decades, China has made remarkable achievements in poverty reduction, building a moderately prosperous society, infrastructure development, and the modernization of its education and healthcare systems. "Kazakhstan is actively studying the development experiences of various regions and provinces in China," said Nuryshev. 

On cooperation, the ambassador said, "I firmly believe that, in 2026, bilateral cooperation will be committed to further strengthening the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership and benefiting the peoples of our countries."