Chinese Support for Kazakhstan's Alatau City Future Project
China plans to support Kazakhstan in the development of Alatau City—a futuristic urban development project intended to become a regional hub for finance, technology, and innovation. The initiative is considered one of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s most important flagship projects.
At a trade and investment event in Shenzhen, China, Chinese and Kazakh representatives reached a basic agreement on 24 cooperation projects for the development of the new city. According to official figures, the planned investments could total up to 6 billion U.S. dollars.
According to the Kazakh government, the agreements include the construction of production facilities for next-generation batteries, energy storage systems, modern agricultural technology, electric mobility, and charging infrastructure. In addition, investments are planned for industrial facilities, energy projects, transportation and logistics infrastructure, and smart city technologies.
Kazakh authorities describe Alatau City as a modern urban center designed to combine sustainability, technological innovation, and green growth. In the long term, the project is intended to attract new investments and strengthen Kazakhstan’s position as an economic and technological hub in Central Asia.
China Continues to Expand Its Presence in Central Asia
Support for Alatau City is part of China’s broader economic cooperation with the countries of Central Asia.
Kazakhstan
In the Turkestan region, successful field trials were completed as part of a joint project between the Kazakh Research Institute for Plant Protection and Quarantine and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The trials tested a new solution to protect wheat fields and fruit orchards from Moroccan locusts.
Kyrgyzstan
China and Kyrgyzstan are negotiating the modernization of their border regime. The focus is on the Torugart and Irkeshtam border crossings. The goal is to streamline logistics processes while simultaneously strengthening the fight against smuggling and illegal migration.
In addition, several violations of environmental regulations were identified during the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway (CKU). According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of the Environment, a total of 30 violations were documented during unannounced inspections.
Furthermore, Alma Finance Bank, backed by Chinese investors, has established itself as one of the country’s best-capitalized new financial institutions. The bank’s equity capital now stands at more than 2 billion som (approximately 28 million U.S. dollars).
Tajikistan
Tajikistan and the Chinese company Guangzhou Zhizhi Enterprise Management Consulting have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, modern technologies, and language education. The goal is to expand technological training and promote Chinese language instruction.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is also intensifying its cooperation with China. Representatives of the State Committee for Radio and Film visited the People’s Republic to learn about modern production methods in the media sector.
In addition, scientists from Turkmenistan and China conducted joint research in several nature reserves. The findings are to be incorporated into a new edition of Turkmenistan’s Red Book as well as into an atlas of desert plants.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is further expanding its cooperation with China in both customs and the transportation sector. Representatives of the Uzbek Customs Committee met in Beijing with the Chinese Customs Brokers Association to develop information exchange and joint consultation formats.
In the railway sector, two electric locomotives modernized by the Chinese conglomerate CRRC were put back into service. A total of twelve locomotives are to be modernized, and an additional 38 new vehicles are to be delivered by 2034.
In addition, the Uzbekistan-China Forum of leading think tanks took place in Shanghai. Representatives from politics, academia, business, and security agencies discussed there how to further deepen bilateral relations.
These developments underscore China’s growing economic and strategic presence in Central Asia. At the same time, projects such as Alatau City demonstrate how the region is increasingly being positioned as a key component of China’s investment and trade strategy along the New Silk Road.
