The 2nd Liangma Silk Road International Forum, hosted by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China and KAZAKH INVEST National Company, was held on March 15 at the Twenty-first Century Hotel in Beijing.

Sultan Kinzhakulov, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of Kazakhstan in China, addresses the 2nd Liangma Silk Road International Forum on March 15.

Sultan Kinzhakulov, Commercial Counsellor of Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in China, outlined current economic development in Kazakhstan. He noted that China is an important economic and trade partner of Kazakhstan, and among its top four investors; China's direct investment in Kazakhstan has exceeded $23 billion.

Highlighting the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation, Kinzhakulov said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Kazakhstan, and expressed the hope that young entrepreneurs of the two countries will work together to extend cooperation in a pragmatic fashion and inject new impetus into the development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

Kuanysh Amantay, General Representative in China of KAZAKH INVEST National Company, introduces the investment policy of Kazakhstan on March 15.

Kuanysh Amantay, General Representative in China of KAZAKH INVEST National Company, explained the preferential policy for investment in Kazakhstan, and described the business environment of Kazakhstan in terms of strategic location, investor protection, and investment incentives.

He said that foreign investors are treated as local ones in Kazakhstan, and projects exceeding $15 million are allowed to receive preferential policies of income, land and asset taxes, in addition to the industrial projects in the priority areas listed by government.

Amantay said that Kazakhstan has attracted 350 billion US dollars in international direct investment, and said that extensive and in-depth cooperation between Chinese and Kazakh enterprises in petrochemical, agriculture and logistics is expected. He also encouraged Chinese young entrepreneurs to be actively involved in the bilateral cooperation.

Kazakhstan's advantages in geographical location, resources and investment policies aroused deep interest among the participants, who exchanged views with Amantay on cooperation in logistics, animal husbandry, agriculture, petrochemicals, e-commerce, high-tech and other fields.

CIYEC Deputy Director Jia Tiesong presided over the meeting, which was also attended by Wang Yijun, Party Secretary of CIYEC, and deputy directors Zhang Hua, Zhong Binqing and Chen Peng, as well as more than 60 young entrepreneurs from China and Kazakhstan.