ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 28. Kazakhstan and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) will implement new joint projects in the energy sector, Trend reports.
This topic was discussed during a meeting between the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Roman Sklyar and CNPC President Hou Qijun.
Sklyar noted the importance of Kazakhstan's strategic partnership with China and, in particular, with the CNPC. "CNPC is one of the largest oil companies in the world, as well as a long-time strategic and investment partner of Kazakhstan," he said.
In turn, Hou Qijun pointed out that the CNPC attaches great importance to cooperation with Kazakhstan. "Guided by the important agreements reached by the heads of the two states, the company strives to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector," he noted.
As was noted during the meeting, the government of Kazakhstan is working closely on specific projects within the Framework Agreement on the expansion of strategic cooperation in the energy sector concluded between the Ministry of Energy and CNPC.
Thus, issues of expanding the production capacity of the Shymkent Oil Refinery, the construction of the second string of the Beyneu-Bozoy-Shymkent gas pipeline, joint geological exploration, etc. are being considered.
Furthermore, in 2022, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with China amounted to $24.1 billion, which is 34.1 percent more than a year earlier.
Exports from Kazakhstan increased over the year by 34.7 percent, to $13.2 billion. The share of Kazakhstan's exports to China accounted for a significant 15.6 percent of the country's total trade turnover.
Imports from China to Kazakhstan grew by 33.5 percent over the year, to $11 billion. China's share in the structure of imports from the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 21.9 percent.