On June 12, 2026 the capital of Kazakhstan became a key hub for an impactful academic and geo-economic dialogue. Astana International University (AIU) hosted an official government delegation from Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, PRC. This official visit, held at the university's strategic locations and the EXPO venue, marked the beginning of a new chapter in transcontinental cooperation between Kazakhstan and China within the framework of global infrastructure initiatives.
The visit program featured both practical demonstrations of scientific achievements and a profound diplomatic and cultural exchange. The event took place across two major venues: the EXPO C2.1 site and the university's main campus. The official program commenced at the branch of the Research Institute of the New New Asia-Europe Continental-Maritime Transport Corridor (RI CMTCO) and the BLCU Kazakhstan branch, where the guests reviewed the research infrastructure and attended presentations on the institutes' core activities. Following the site tour, the delegation moved to the campus on Zhiembet Zhyrau Street. A key highlight preceding the business agenda was a visit to the Museum of the Orient, which emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between the two nations, followed by high-level bilateral talks in the conference hall.
The negotiations were conducted at the highest level, reflecting the strategic importance of this partnership for both parties. The Chinese government delegation was led by Ms. Wu Ganyuy, Member of the Standing Committee of the Lianyungang Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor of Lianyungang. She was accompanied by Mr. Sun Guangyin, Deputy Director General of the Lianyungang Port Affairs Bureau, Mr. Zhong Kai, Chief of the Free Trade Zone Division of the Municipal Commerce Bureau, Mr. Zhang Ao, Deputy Chief of the Fourth Secretariat of the Lianyungang Municipal Government Office, and Ms. Cao Haixia, Russian Translator from the Foreign Affairs Center. Astana International University was represented by its President Serik Irsaliyev, Rector Anar Myrzagaliyeva, Director of the RI CMTCO branch Nurali Irsaliyev, Chinese Co-Director of the BLCU branch Liu Xianqiang, Dean of the Higher School of Economics Zubirash Smagulova, Professor Meyram Kazhyken, research fellows Nurlan Almasov and Aslan Anetbaev, and lecturer Fariza Tursynzhan.
During the bilateral meeting, initiated by welcoming addresses from AIU President Serik Irsaliyev and Vice Mayor Ms. Wu Ganyuy, the parties reviewed global economic challenges and the successful outcomes of their joint endeavors. The sides highlighted significant achievements in the joint development of dry ports, transshipment stations, and the construction of new container hubs along the route from Lianyungang to Kazakhstan, which serve as critical nodes in Eurasian logistics. Discussions also focused on the active participation of Jiangsu Province in the "China–Central Asia" regional initiatives, with a particular emphasis on developing unified data transmission channels, ensuring operational interoperability, and establishing shared standards for business and logistics.
The Chinese delegation highly commended the ongoing partnership with Astana International University, noting its outstanding economic relevance. The PRC representatives explicitly stated that they consider the partnership with this Kazakhstani university to be the finest and most productive in the country. Providing a vital signal of stability for both academic and business communities, the Chinese side emphasized the continuity of their policy course: despite recent leadership changes in Lianyungang, the newly appointed officials confirmed their strong commitment to the ongoing projects and guaranteed comprehensive state-level support.
The meeting concluded with the formation of a roadmap aimed at broadening cooperation and entering new market segments. A fundamental consensus was reached on expanding cooperation areas, with priority given to the development of "green" trade and the integration of cross-border e-commerce systems. The Kazakhstani side fully endorsed initiatives for conducting collaborative in-depth transportation research and accelerating digitalization processes across the logistics sector. Furthermore, the participants identified substantial unexploited potential in establishing direct ties between Lianyungang's specialized maritime universities and Kazakhstan's academic community, agreeing to design new joint initiatives in this field.
The visit of the Lianyungang government delegation proved that the synergy of science, state backing, and advanced technologies is capable of reshaping cross-border logistics. The talks concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation and a traditional group photo session, marking the mutual readiness of both parties to attain new heights in economic and academic collaboration.
