At the Kazakhstan-China Business Council meeting held in Beijing on September 2, leading universities from both countries signed more than 20 new agreements aimed at deepening cooperation in education, science, and innovation, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The wide-ranging agreements span areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, water resource management, and dual degree programs, highlighting the growing strategic role of academic and research collaboration in the Kazakhstan-China partnership.
Among the most significant developments was the establishment of the Kazakh-Chinese Scientific and Technological Alliance on Spatio-Temporal Artificial Intelligence. The alliance includes the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Zhejiang University of Technology, and Zhejiang Zhonghe Technology Co., Ltd. A joint laboratory will also be launched as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) signed an agreement with Chinese investment and development firm Yuan Zhen to jointly design and produce unmanned aerial vehicles. KazNU also partnered with Jiangsu Huibo Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. to inaugurate the International Institute of Digital Technologies and Robotics, along with a Robotics Center dedicated to training the next generation of engineers.
In Almaty, the Technological University signed an agreement with Beijing Technology and Business University to create the Kazakhstan-China Center for Technology and Innovation Development. Meanwhile, the Kazakh National University of Water Resources and Irrigation and the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power (NCWU) agreed to collaborate on sustainable water management.
In the digital sphere, Astana IT University signed a memorandum of cooperation with Tus-Holdings, a science park affiliated with Tsinghua University, focusing on information technology, artificial intelligence, and startup incubation.
Multiple institutions expanded joint academic offerings. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, ALT University, and Uzbekali Zhanibekov South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University all signed agreements with top Chinese universities to launch dual bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
In the energy sector, the Atyrau University of Oil and Gas and Liaoning Petrochemical University will establish the Kazakhstan-China International Engineering School and a joint international laboratory.
Additionally, Astana International University and Beijing Language and Culture University agreed to open a branch campus of the Chinese university in Kazakhstan.
These agreements underscore the strategic role of higher education and scientific cooperation in advancing Kazakhstan-China relations, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
