Prospects for Kazakhstan–China Cooperation in Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Discussed in Astana

On 22 July 2026, the Kazakhstan–China Forum on the Sustainable Development of the Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Industry was held in Astana, bringing together representatives of government agencies, industry associations, businesses, and leading companies from the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China. The Forum served as a platform to discuss investment attraction, industrial cooperation, the introduction of advanced technologies, and the implementation of joint projects in the mining and metallurgical sector.

The event was organized by Chinese industry organizations, while The Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan acted as the Kazakh co-organizer.

On behalf of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken", the participants were welcomed by Rustam Shuntukov, Managing Director and Director of the Mining and Metallurgical Complex Department. In his remarks, he emphasized that Atameken serves as a key platform for constructive dialogue between business and government, bringing together the expertise of the business community and contributing to the creation of favorable conditions for investment projects.

Rustam Shuntukov noted that Kazakhstan is currently one of the most attractive jurisdictions for mineral development and investment projects in the mining and metallurgical industry. This is supported by the country's substantial mineral resource base, developed industrial infrastructure, highly qualified workforce, and consistent government policy aimed at improving the business environment.

According to him, Kazakhstan possesses a unique resource base. The country is home to approximately 10,000 mineral deposits, including more than 2.3 thousand tonnes of gold reserves, 33.5 billion tonnes of coal, and 26.7 billion tonnes of iron ore. In addition, Kazakhstan has significant reserves of strategically important rare and rare earth metals, including approximately 2.4 million tonnes of tungsten, 1 million tonnes of molybdenum, 226.9 thousand tonnes of lithium, 117.5 thousand tonnes of beryllium, and 27.2 thousand tonnes of niobium. This potential provides a solid foundation for long-term investment projects and the development of modern industries.

As the representative of Atameken noted, the high level of confidence among international investors is evidenced by the presence in Kazakhstan of leading global companies such as Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Arras Minerals, East Star Resources, Pallas Resources, and Sarytogan Graphite.

At the same time, the next stage of the industry's development should focus not only on mineral extraction but also on deep processing of raw materials, the establishment of high value-added production, and the development of complete domestic value chains. To achieve these goals, Kazakhstan is interested in attracting advanced technologies, industrial expertise, and the experience of international companies. Atameken is ready to serve as a reliable platform for partner search, industrial cooperation, and investment project support.

"Today, Kazakhstan has already created favorable conditions for implementing investment projects in the mining and metallurgical sector. The next stage should focus on developing advanced processing industries, introducing modern technologies, and expanding industrial cooperation. I am confident that combining Kazakhstan's resource potential, the experience of domestic businesses, and the expertise of international companies will enable the implementation of new large-scale projects, enhance the competitiveness of our industry, and strengthen Kazakhstan's position as a reliable partner for long-term investment cooperation," Rustam Shuntukov emphasized.

The Forum also featured thematic sessions devoted to Kazakhstan's investment climate, joint projects in non-ferrous metallurgy, raw material processing technologies, environmentally sustainable industry development, investment financing, and the expansion of Kazakhstan–China industrial cooperation. Representatives of government agencies, industry associations, development institutions, major industrial enterprises, and financial organizations from both countries took part in the discussions.

The Forum reaffirmed the mutual interest of Kazakhstan and China in further expanding cooperation in the mining and metallurgical industry, implementing joint investment projects, localizing advanced production facilities, and strengthening long-term technological partnership.