On July 2, 2018, the International Scientific Complex Astana and International University of Astana hosted the first international scientific and practical conference “Economic belt of the Silk Road and topical issues of China-Kazakhstan interaction”.
The Kazakhstani side was represented by the Security Council of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Director of the Department for Development of Transit and Transport Logistics of the Ministry of Investment and Development, Director of the Department of Asia and Africa Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of research institutes of ISC of Astana participated in the Conference.
Representatives of the Chinese side were the following: one of the leading universities of China – Fudan University, the leadership and professors of the research institutes of this university, representatives of the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Chinese company CNPC, director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Association for Enterprise Development abroad as well as representatives of the Xinjiang branch of the Development Bank of China.
President of Astana International University – S.A. Irsaliev, Vice President of Fudan University – Jimin Chen, Head of the Analytical Department of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan – A.V. Sukhanov, Member of the Majilis, Member Committee for Economic Reform and Regional Development of Majilis of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan – P.O. Kazantsev have made welcoming speeches and wishes of successful work to participants. Welcoming speeches were also made by the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan – E.K. Sagadiev and Akim of the city of Astana A.O. Isekeshev.
The conference had two sessions. There were reported 14 plenary reports on bilateral relations and investments under the One-Below-One Way initiative were presented, as well as education, environment, economic and energy cooperation, infrastructure, transport, logistics and production, research and other activities.
The work of the conference was held in an atmosphere of active discussion of the reports. During the conference, the participants exchanged experience, discussed topical issues of cooperation between the two countries and further ways of its development.
Within the framework of the conference, representatives of both sides held the official opening ceremony of the joint Kazakhstan-China Center for China and Central Asia Studies.
After the conference, the participants had the opportunity to meet with the Assistant of the President – Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan – N.B. Yermekpayev and with the Minister of Education and Science – E.K. Sagadiev, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the field of scientific, analytical and expert support.
Participants noted that the conference in Astana was a significant event for them, where they had an opportunity to discuss topical issues with colleagues, identify problems and find solutions to them, and outline new areas of cooperation.