Tokayev's Strategic Vision: EAEU and China on the Path to Digital Cooperation

By the end of 2023, there was a significant increase in trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China, reaching almost 25% since the beginning of the year. This growth has been a stimulus for strengthening business ties between the two countries. Particular attention was drawn to the words of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, expressed in December in St. Petersburg at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Tokayev proposed to combine the "Digital Agenda of the EAEU" and the Chinese initiative "Digital Silk Road", which, in his opinion, will greatly contribute to the development of the economies of the Eurasian region.
It is worth noting that the digital agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union is a strategic plan aimed at developing digital technologies and integrating electronic systems into the economies of the member countries of the union. This includes issues of digitalization of the economy, improving data management, developing e-commerce, and creating a unified digital space within the EAEU.
The Digital Silk Road is part of the Chinese initiative "One Belt, One Road", focused on creating a cross-border digital infrastructure to strengthen trade and economic ties between countries. This includes the development of digital telecommunication networks, the promotion of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, and strengthening cybersecurity.
Combining these two initiatives implies a synergy between the strategic goals of the EAEU and China in the field of digitalization. This could lead to the creation of a powerful cross-border digital network, facilitating closer economic integration and cooperation in technology.
While President Tokayev's proposal awaits a response, a number of projects aimed at improving infrastructure cooperation between countries are already being implemented in practice. For example, in the Abai region, construction of the Bakhty - Ayagoz railway line has begun, including a new border crossing Bakhty - Chuguchak (Tacheng) with China.
The importance of railway transportation was also emphasized by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, pointing to a record volume of freight traffic in 2022. From the Chinese side, there is also a growth in trade, especially in Xinjiang, where the volume of trade with Central Asia increased by 53.4%, and with Kazakhstan - by more than 70%.
President Tokayev's visit to Urumqi in October this year also contributed to strengthening ties, especially in the field of tourism and cultural exchange. The visa waiver agreement, which came into effect in November 2023, is already bearing fruit, as seen from the increase in passenger flow through border points.
Future plans include activating the tourist market and launching new air routes between Almaty and Beijing. These steps, as noted by Ma Xinzhui, will contribute to further development of trade and economic cooperation, including agriculture, cross-border trade, and energy.