Khussey Daurov

(President, Dungans Association)

Author

Khussey Shymarovych Daurov is President of Dungans Association, General Manager of the Shaanxi Co. Ltd, Council Member of the Union of China-Kazakhstan Entrepreneurs, and Council Member of the Committee of the Overseas Chinese Association (since 2008). Born on August 26, 1960, he graduated with an Architecture Engineering major from the Frunze Polytechnic Institute in 1983. He has been awarded the medal of the 10th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence, and medal of the 10th anniversary of Astana. He also received the certificate of honor issued by the governor of the Jambyl Province in 2000, and the certificate of honor by the Kazakhstan People's Organization in 2004.

Abstract

Ladies and Gentlemen: First, I'd like to talk about the international background of the forum. The rule of law of our world is going down and the international law has been questioned and changed. The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev once said "the world security situation is constantly changing." Chinese President Xi Jinping called for building of a new Asia Security System. At present, Russia is falling into international isolation due to the sanction of the West. And the trade between Russia and Europe is decreasing, which has inevitably affected Kazakhstan's economy. As is known to all, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus have signed the Treaty of The Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) in Astana on May 29. Under such circumstance, it becomes so important for Kazakhstan and the EAU to carry out cooperation and enhance relations with China. During Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) that was held in Shanghai, Kazakhstan, Russia and China have reached a significant economic cooperation agreement. In fact, the relation between the EAU and China enters into a new phase of close cooperation on a global scale. I'd like to share my understanding of the Silk Road Economic Belt with a view from my position in Kazakhstan Dungans Association and China's Overseas Liaison Organization. In May, President Nazarbayev announced a series of unprecedented preferential policies, such as exemption of enterprise income tax for 10 years, simplifying work visa formalities and subsidies for investment. It is well known that Kazakhstan has a vast territory and abundant mineral resources. Over 60 percent natural resources have yet to be explored. In recent years, large oil and natural gas deposits have been found in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan and China have close cooperation on energy. For example, Kazakhstan has established natural gas pipelines connecting to China. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the proposal of Silk Road Economic Belt in an address given at Nazarbayev University in Astana last September during his state visit to Kazakhstan. The proposal was warmly welcomed by countries along the Silk Road as soon as it was proposed, showing that the idea is significant and arrives in good time. I deeply believe that the Silk Road Economic Belt will become an impetus for the economic growth of Central Asian Countries and bring countries along the Silk Road even closer and make peoples more united. In ancient time, the Silk Road was an important transport and trade hub in the world, linking the East and the West. Today, reviving the Silk Road is of great significance. Kazakhstan is an important link on the Silk Road. Thousands of miles of the road and many famous trade centers are located in the Kazakhstan territory. The country attaches great importance to the revival of the Silk Road and is making efforts to achieve the goal. For example, the major part of cross-Eurasian road has been constructed by Kazakhstan. The road will be a shortcut from Europe to Asia. The freight will reach 50 million tons. Kazakhstan has built two railways which cut in half the time of cargo transportation from China to Europe. The country has also completed the oil and natural gas pipelines to China. Last September, China and Kazakhstan reached 20 economic agreements when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan. Last May, Kazakhstan signed a series of new economic agreements with China when President Nazarbayev paid a visit to Shanghai, pushing the cooperation between the two countries to a new height. In my opinion, the initiatives of individuals and enterprises are also important for building the Silk Road Economic Belt. In other words, public diplomacy plays an important role in promoting relations between nations and peoples. My work in Kazakhstan Dungans Association and China's Overseas Liaison Organization is to serve as a bridge between Kazakhstan and China, as well as promote mutual benefits for the two countries. The more peoples understand each other, the closer their relations will be. Recently, we have helped organize a big economic delegation to attend the first Silk Road International Expo in Xi'an. We signed contracts of a large number of economic projects in the field of energy, agriculture and education during the expo. For Kazakhstan's Jambyl Province, the home of Dungan people, we have reached agreements totaling 200 million yuan. In 2004, Kazakhstan and China agreed to establish a cross-border trade center in Horgos, China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In 2012, the trade center was put into use. At present, we plan to set up a logistic center in Xi'an, the starting city of the Silk Road. We warmly invite entrepreneurs who are interested in the project to join us. Kazakhstan has huge potential in agriculture. For starters, Almaty has allocated 10,000 hectares of arable land for us to develop agriculture. We hope Chinese investors will come to Kazakhstan and develop local agriculture. In the future, the crop land can be doubled. The friendship and economic ties between Kazakhstan and China have become closer. President Nazarbayev's state visit to China in May further enhances the relations between two sides and injects new impetus for cooperation. I wish Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and all Chinese people peace, happiness and prosperity.