MKsports northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 25, 2024. Horgos Port, a major railway hub in Xinjiang, has facilitated 8,541 China-Europe freight train trips by Dec. 24 this year, according to statistics from the railway department of Horgos Port. (Xinhua/Jin Bowen)" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-12-23/c225412c-88f5-4b4b-bbf8-a85baf8d4c39.jpeg" />

A China-Europe freight train bound for Kazakhstan passes through Horgos railway port in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 25, 2024. Horgos Port, a major railway hub in Xinjiang, has facilitated 8,541 China-Europe freight train trips by Dec. 24 this year, according to statistics from the railway department of Horgos Port. (Xinhua/Jin Bowen)

A Chinese business delegation organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and led by CCPIT Chairman Ren Hongbin departed for Kazakhstan on Monday for a four-day economic and trade exchange. Representatives from 32 domestic companies, including CITIC Group and China National Petroleum Corporation, are participating, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The delegation will engage in in-depth discussions with Kazakh political and business representatives and explore cooperation opportunities in key sectors such as oil and gas trade, clean energy, and digital business.

According to a report posted on its official Weibo account by Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with CCTV, the companies are involved in industries such as mineral resources and energy, petrochemicals, and machinery manufacturing.

CCPIT will also lead the Chinese companies to regions such as the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa to explore diversified markets and pursue trade opportunities in oil and gas, automotive, and agricultural sectors, automobiles, and agricultural machinery, according to Yuyuantantian's post. 

The departure of the delegation followed on Monday morning China's tariffs on US crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), agricultural machinery, and automobiles with large displacement, officially came into effect, the post said. 

One-third of the enterprises in the delegation team are from the energy sector and they will sign agreements with Kazakhstan firms in sectors including oil and gas trade as well as clean energy, according to a separate Weibo post released by Yuyuantantian. 

According to a different report by China Media Group (CMG) on Monday, the business delegation team organized by the CCPIT to Kazakhstan is the first delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs' delegation to visit abroad after the Spring Festival holidays. The delegation team includes representatives from 32 companies, covering industries from mineral and energy, petrochemicals, financial trade, water conservancy and hydropower, to construction engineering, aviation logistics, and machinery manufacturing. 

The 4-day economic and trade exchanges with Kazakhstan are aimed at implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, addressing the strong demand of enterprises in China and Kazakhstan to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and seeking to secure additional trade agreements and project collaborations, Yang Xiaojun, an official of the CCPIT was quoted in the CMG report. 

Various events will be organized to facilitate in-depth exploration of key cooperation areas such as oil and gas trade, clean energy and digital business during the visit. The delegation team will also promote the third China International Supply Chain Expo, advancing international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, according to the report. 

The bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan in 2024 exceeded $43.8 billion, a yearly increase of 6.8 percent. 

Global Times