According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan will build several nuclear power plants. The statement was made during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana.
«We have decided to build several, at least two or three, NPPs in Kazakhstan. Currently, we are negotiating with renowned companies in this area to ensure their involvement in this important project. The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy has been created, and I’d like to highlight that we’re considering the Chinese company CNNC as a reliable strategic partner in the NPP construction project. CNNC is well-known worldwide for its high competence, so it will certainly play an important role in our market. On the other hand, Kazakhstan is a reliable supplier of natural uranium and nuclear fuel to China,» Tokayev said.
The statement came against the backdrop of Xi’s visit to Astana. As Tokayev noted, relations between Kazakhstan and China have reached a «golden period.» The volume of mutual trade exceeded $44 billion last year, while cooperation in culture, science, and technology continues to grow.
The parties also discussed international security, tourism, and China’s role in building a fair world order. In 2025, Kazakhstan will host the Year of China’s Tourism to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Tokayev said, «China is a good neighbor, close friend, and reliable partner for Kazakhstan,» and noted the symbolism of the PRC chairman’s visit, which coincided with his birthday. The President of Kazakhstan wished his Chinese counterpart good health, prosperity, and new achievements in state affairs.
Xi thanked his Kazakhstani host for the warm welcome and emphasized that China will continue supporting Kazakhstan’s development and collaborating on joint projects.
On June 15, Kazakhstan officially announced that Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom will lead the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant (NPP). Rosatom was selected from a shortlist of four international technology providers, which also included China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and France’s Électricité de France (EDF).
While CNNC was not selected for the first project, it has been named the lead partner in an international consortium to build Kazakhstan’s second NPP. According to AAE Chairman Almassadam Satkaliyev, proposals from Russia and China were the strongest among those submitted for evaluation.
