Strategic Meeting of AIU with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the General Association of Chinese Enterprises

A strategic meeting between the leadership of Astana International University (AIU), the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the Association of Entities «General Association of Chinese Enterprises in Kazakhstan» took place at the Representative Office of CCPIT in the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana.

The AIU delegation was represented by University President Serik Irsaliyev, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the AIU Endowment Fund Farkhad Kuanganov, and Director of the Research Institute of the New Asia-Europe Land-Sea Transport Corridor Nurali Irsaliyev.

The Chinese delegation was headed by Ms. Liu Yue, Chief Representative of CCPIT in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head of the General Association of Chinese Enterprises in the RK.

The central theme of the negotiations was promoting the project to establish a «Kazakhstan-China Joint University» as well as practical steps toward integrating education, science, and industry (产学研).

During the meeting, AIU President Serik Irsaliyev noted that over 7,500 enterprises with Chinese capital are currently operating in Kazakhstan. Consequently, there is a rapidly growing demand for specialists – engineers, builders, logisticians, and IT personnel – who possess specialized professional skills and are fluent in technical Chinese as well as Kazakh or Russian. Highlighting the successful launch of the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) branch at AIU, Mr. Irsaliyev proposed expanding the scope of cooperation from basic language training to establishing joint applied colleges tailored to the specific recruitment needs of businesses.

Ms. Liu Yue and representatives of Chinese business fully supported this initiative. They confirmed that the shortage of qualified local specialists is a key barrier to lowering project costs and scaling operations. The Chinese side expressed readiness to act as a bridge between Kazakhstan’s educational sector and PRC companies to organize targeted workforce training.

Special attention was paid to financing mechanisms for joint programs. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the AIU Endowment Fund Farkhad Kuanganov presented the capabilities of the university's target capital. He explained the new legislative norms in Kazakhstan allowing corporate investors to receive a 100% corporate income tax deduction. When investing in an endowment fund, the principal capital remains untouched and functions in perpetuity, while only the investment income is directed toward educational projects – making this tool highly advantageous for the corporate sector.

Following the meeting, the parties outlined several concrete initiatives. In particular, an agreement was reached to organize a joint forum in November bringing together Chinese business leaders and academia. Additionally, the parties discussed the possibility of creating an Alumni Association of the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) to further strengthen trade and economic ties.

In conclusion, the AIU delegation invited their Chinese partners to the upcoming grand unveiling of the «Dialogue of Eastern Sages» monument – a memorial to Confucius and Al-Farabi gifted to the university by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Both sides expressed confidence that this dialogue will establish a solid foundation for long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation.