By Serik Shapkenov
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 7. Akim (governor) of
Atyrau region Serik Shapkenov took part in the forum of friendship
of peoples and sister cities of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, which was held in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning
province in northeast China, and signed a protocol on twinning
relations between the cities, Trend reports via the regional administration.
鈥淭his agreement will allow for the development of economic ties,
implementation of joint investment projects, strengthening
interaction between entrepreneurs of the two regions, exchange of
experiences, as well as close cooperation in the fields of
education, science, and infrastructure,鈥 the information notes.
Moreover, to ensure systematic coordination of the protocol’s
implementation, a joint working group of representatives from
government bodies and interested organizations is planned to be
established in the future.
The delegation from Atyrau Region, headed by Serik Shapkenov, is
on a working visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as part
of a mandate from the President of Kazakhstan to attract
investments to the region and develop its industry.
According to the information, the delegation includes
representatives from the regional business community, government
bodies responsible for investment attraction, and members of
parliament.
During the visit, the Atyrau delegation will visit four
provinces and eight cities, familiarize themselves with the
activities of 15 enterprises, and hold meetings with six
Liaoning Province is located in the northeastern part of the
People’s Republic of China. It consists of 14 cities, and its total
population exceeds 40 million people.
China is one of the main trade and investment partners, not only
for Kazakhstan but for the entire region. Last year, trade between
China and Central Asian countries reached $95 billion, with almost
half of that amount attributed to Kazakhstan. According to China’s
General Administration of Customs, trade turnover between
Kazakhstan and China grew to $43.8 billion in 2024. From January
through April 2025, the trade turnover between China and Kazakhstan
reached $8.5 billion.