By Hina Rubab

The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) was renamed the Republic of Kazakhstan on 10 December 1991, and was the last Republic to leave the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) on 16 December, 1991. The Soviet Union was disbanded on 26 December 1991 by the Soviet of the Republics. The Republic of Kazakhstan, the lawful replacement to the Kazakh SSR, was admitted as member of the United Nations on 2 March 1992. Kazakhs describes themselves and originates from a progenitor who had three sons from whom sprang the main divisions of the Kazakhs; the Great, Middle, and Little hordes. These hordes were subdivided into smaller groups like the basic unit of extended family, embracing not only parents and unmarried children but married sons and their families, who camped together.

The People’s Republic of China and Republic of Kazakhstan framed strategic relations on 3 January 1992. Both of them agreed to stamp their 1700 km shared boundary. In 1993, the president of Kazakhstan Nursultan visited Beijing at the invitation of then Chinese president Jiang Zemin. From that point onward, the heads of China and Kazakhstan frequently traded visit to each other’s state. In 1996 the both nations became fellow beneficiaries of the Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO).

Initially there existed a number of disputes between the two the countries including territorial issues but later, both signed a border treaty on 26 April 1994. Presently, China and Kazakhstan have advanced extended business and economic development, particularly in in the fields of Kazakhstan's oil, gaseous petrol, minerals and other significant energy assets. Owing to high demand of homegrown energy needs, China has looked forward to win major part in developing and creating energy enterprises in Kazakhstan. China is also working on four more oil installations. The China National Petroleum Corporation purchased Petrokazakhstan in 2005 that was the previously Soviet Union's biggest independent oil organization for USD 4.18 billion and spent another USD 700 million on a pipeline that will carry the oil across the Chinese boundaries. Petrokazakhstan was the biggest foreign purchase ever by a Chinese organization.

China has plans to assemble an air terminal to encourage multi-purpose associations. There are likewise indications that the assembling zone of the Port region could possibly take off. That obviously, would increase Kazakhstan’s reliance upon China. In 2016, China and Kazakhstan concluded a number of undertakings, including mining, synthetic compounds and petrochemicals, through nearly 50 joint-adventure organizations. Despite so many undertakings, as of November 2018, just six ventures have been endorsed by the public authority of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is one of China’s close neighbours with long border. Recently, China and Kazakhstan discussed humanitarian cooperation, international issues and signed a cooperation agreement between the two ministries for 2020-2022. They also discussed Kazakhstan’s desire to work with China to resolve issues related to ethnic Kazakhs living in China, including through increased contact between foreign ministries and their consular services. As the Chinese proverb states, “a close neighbour is more valuable than a distant relative”. Henceforth, the significance of Sino-Kazakh ties, particularly when Beijing attempts to advance its "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) across Eurasia indicates long term partnership and alliance.