Xi Jinping Meets Kazakh President Tokayev to Boost AI and Trade Ties

On July 16, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai during the World AI Conference. The leaders discussed deepening their permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, with Xi proposing enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and the sharing of digital economy and AI technologies. Tokayev reaffirmed that relations with China are a primary foreign policy priority and expressed support for China's global initiatives and AI governance cooperation. The meeting concluded with the signing of multiple bilateral agreements.

This meeting not only consolidates the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan but also expands cooperation from traditional energy and transportation sectors to cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence governance and digital transformation, reflecting China's intent to export its technological governance standards in regional diplomacy.

On July 16, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Xijiao State Guest Hotel in Shanghai. Tokayev was visiting China to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. During their meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Xi highlighted the resilience of China-Kazakhstan relations amid profound global changes. He also noted the recent 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), attributing the party's success to its adherence to truth, deep roots among the people, and adaptability to developmental trends. Xi emphasized that China is ready to align its development strategies with Kazakhstan's ongoing comprehensive reforms to elevate bilateral cooperation. To advance bilateral ties, Xi proposed several key areas of cooperation. These include optimizing trade structures by fostering cross-border e-commerce and service trade, expanding energy and mineral partnerships, and improving connectivity through more direct flights and enhanced international road transport facilitation. Notably, Xi expressed China's willingness to share digital economy and artificial intelligence technologies to support Kazakhstan's digital transformation and cultivate 'new quality productive forces.' Tokayev congratulated China on the CPC's 105th anniversary and described relations with China as a primary focus of Kazakhstan's foreign policy. He expressed Kazakhstan's commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, energy, agriculture, and the digital economy. Tokayev also voiced support for China's global initiatives and expressed readiness to collaborate on global AI governance within multilateral frameworks like the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the China-Central Asia mechanism. Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements spanning trade, transportation, finance, and media. Senior Chinese officials, including Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and Chen Jining, also attended the meeting.