Zou Lei, Chairman of China Datang, held talks with Roman Sklyar, First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, on the morning of September 23 in Astana. 

They engaged in in-depth discussions on deepening the alignment of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's "Bright Road" economic policy, actively implementing the important agreements reached between the two heads of state, and strategically planning for advancing energy cooperation in Kazakhstan as well as accelerating the implementation of relevant outcomes.

Li Jianwei, Vice President of China Datang, was present at the talks. 

Sklyar first welcomed Zou and his delegation during the talks, emphasizing that China is not just a friendly neighbor but a close friend and vital strategic partner of Kazakhstan. He said, the strategic leading of the heads of both countries is a key political advantage and defining characteristic of the Kazakhstan-China relationship. President Xi Jinping's decision to visit Kazakhstan as his first overseas destination following the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the exceptional and high-level nature of the ties between the two nations. Noting that Kazakhstan-China relations, guided by the head-of-state diplomacy, have witnessed an unprecedented surge in development, Sklyar said collaboration in trade, energy, agriculture, minerals, and other sectors has yielded significant benefits for the people of both countries, setting a model of state-to-state relations.

China Datang, one of the largest global energy corporations, has made remarkable strides in green and low-carbon transformation. Sklyar expressed Kazakhstan’s willingness to offer full support to China Datang in advancing energy projects in Kazakhstan. He urges China Datang to leverage its strengths in energy and power development to ramp up investments in Kazakhstan's new energy sector, power infrastructure, and other key areas to open a new Golden Thirty Years in Kazakhstan-China relations, thus contributing to the building of a common future in the spirit of eternal friendship, profound mutual trust and solidarity, development and prosperity between the two nations. 

Zou provided China Datang's business overview and expressed gratitude to Sklyar and the Kazakh government for their care and support for the Corporation’s development in Kazakhstan. He mentioned that in September 2013, President Xi Jinping first proposed the initiative of jointly building the "Silk Road Economic Belt" in Astana. 

As a large corporation in the energy sector practicing the Belt and Road Initiative, China Datang highly values the traditional friendship between China and Kazakhstan, Zou said, adding that the Corporation will actively support Kazakhstan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 by drawing on the Corporation ’s experience in energy project investment and operation, as well as its top-notch professional expertise. China Datang will step up efforts in renewable energy investment and operation in Kazakhstan, to drive the green development of Kazakhstan's energy sector, bolster infrastructure development, and infuse new dynamism into Kazakhstan's sustainable progress. Ensuring projects delivered with high standards, China Datang is committed to enhancing connectivity, prosperity, and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Kazakhstan, Zou noted.

Zou also met with Marat Sultangaziev, Governor of Almaty Region, Kazakhstan, in Almaty, on the afternoon of September 22. 

Li Jianwei was also present.

Zou briefed Sultangaziev on China Datang’s overall development, and then put forward suggestions on further deepening cooperation between the two sides. China Datang has identified Kazakhstan as a key player in the development of Central Asia, he noted, hoping that the Almaty Region government will fully support China Datang's clean energy projects in Kazakhstan, and push for a comprehensive upgrade in bilateral cooperation.

For Sultangaziev’s part, he extended a warm welcome to Zou and his delegation, providing an overview of the development landscape in the Almaty Region. The Almaty Region government is ready to bolster practical collaboration with China Datang in areas such as new energy infrastructure, by advancing integration and interaction between the two sides to achieve win-win outcomes, he said.

The meeting was also joined by executives of relevant departments including China Datang General Office, International Business Department, China Datang Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., and Central Asia Representative Office.