Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Belt and Road Initiative has opened up new opportunities for socio-economic development. This was stated by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Shahrat Nuryshev in his article on relations with China, published the other day in the state newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.

The diplomat noted that the participation of representatives of more than 100 states in the High-Level Forum on International Cooperation within the Belt and Road, which was regularly held in Beijing before the pandemic, is an indicator that “this initiative is useful to them”, Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to Sh. Nuryshev, thanks to the implementation of joint projects within the Belt and Road, it became possible to solve such issues as the construction of new infrastructure facilities and industrial enterprises, the attraction of advanced technologies and the creation of jobs.

The diplomat noted that attracting foreign investments and advanced technologies plays an important role in the growth of the national economy. Today, the PRC ranks fourth in terms of foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan after the Netherlands, the United States and Great Britain.

According to him, recently, Chinese investments have become a global trend and a factor in ensuring the healthy economic development of states in various regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Governments and business circles in many countries welcome the expansion of financial cooperation with Beijing.

“It can be seen that the projects implemented jointly with China have changed the economic opportunities of the regions,” said the Deputy Foreign Minister.

"Kazakhstan and China, taking into account their neighborhood, should continue to adhere as priorities of bilateral relations to the further development of a comprehensive strategic partnership, expanding key areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, continuing a dialogue on sensitive topics and jointly resolving emerging issues," Sh. Nuryshev emphasized.