Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev concluded a visit to Shanghai on July 17, 2026, where he addressed the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. During his 16-minute speech, Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a regional center for digital trade and international collaboration, while specifically highlighting China’s significant contributions to these advancements.
The visit occurred during what the Kazakh government has designated as the Year of Digitalization and AI, a period marked by a strategic pivot toward building a digital state. Discussions with industry leaders in Shanghai on July 16 underscored the pivotal role China plays in this national development. Even before the conference, China’s influence was evident, with firms like Huawei providing critical infrastructure components for the Central Asian nation. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Huawei relocated several operations to Central Asia and was subsequently selected to construct Kazakhstan’s 5G network, granting the company substantial involvement in the country’s critical systems.
Prior to Tokayev’s arrival in Shanghai, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on July 13. During the meeting, Wang expressed optimism regarding the potential for enhanced strategic communication between the two leaders, while Kosherbayev emphasized that Kazakhstan consistently prioritizes its cooperation with China. Highlighting the scale of their economic ties, President Tokayev noted during a roundtable with Chinese high-tech executives that bilateral trade reached a record $49 billion last year, with China having invested over $30 billion into the Kazakh economy.
Beyond economic and technological integration, China’s influence has extended to Kazakhstan’s security sector. Reports indicate that China has shaped the nation’s approach to security, evidenced by the adoption of Chinese-made technology and surveillance methodologies. As President Tokayev returns to Kazakhstan, the country’s technological reliance on China appears set to deepen, a move expected to benefit both the Central Asian state and the Chinese economy.
