In the streets and alleys of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan and known as the "economic engine", you can often see cars of Chinese brands such as Chery, JAC, EXEED, Haval and so on. In the departure hall of Almaty International Airport, you can also see the introduction of Huawei notebooks. On the way to the local famous shopping center Mega Mall, billboards of Oppo, Vovo and other"Made in Guangdong" products are particularly eye-catching against the distant snow mountains.
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China is one of Kazakhstan"s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching a record $31.17 billion last year. In the first half of this year, bilateral trade reached $18.25 billion, up 26.8% year-on-year, and is expected to hit a new historical high for the whole year.
Data show that 220 Kazakh enterprises have settled in Alibaba"s international e-commerce platform, and JD.com"s Kazakhstan national pavilion sold out 80% of its spot goods in just one hour after opening. Not long ago, a consortium of Chinese enterprises successfully won the bid for the modernization project of Kazakhstan"s largest thermal power plant, becoming another landmark project under the framework of the two countries" joint development of the "Belt and Road" initiative.
During the meeting between the heads of state of China and Kazakhstan in May this year, they unanimously proposed to increase bilateral trade to $40 billion by 2030.
China helps advance Kazakhstan"s automobile
Standing in the downtown area of Almaty, Kazakhstan"s largest city, you can see Chinese brand cars everywhere: Changan, and ZEEKER cars shuttle back and forth on the wide roads; street parking spaces are scattered with Haval, Chery SUVs; in the distance bus station parked buses, above their license plates are"Yutong" logo．These cars, some are made in China, but more are made in Kazakhstan. With the help of Chinese technology, Kazakhstan"s automobile industry has developed rapidly.
It is reported that in recent years, Kazakhstan"s automobile production and sales have grown rapidly, becoming an important driving force for local economic growth. Among them, Chinese brand cars have quickly increased their popularity and sales volume in Kazakhstan.
According to data from the Kazakhstan Auto Enterprise Association (KAEA), only in February 2023, Kazakh consumers bought 13,115 cars, an increase of 69% in car sales. Since the beginning of this year, Kazakhstan"s domestic car production and imports of Chinese brand cars have achieved double growth.
Since April this year, 150 Yutong buses have been rolling off the local factory in Kazakhstan one after another. They will gradually be put into use in Kazakhstan"s public transport system; Chery, Changan, Haval and other Chinese car brands plan to start production in Kazakhstan by 2025, with an annual output of 90,000 units.
Station Burundai: Central Asian Transit for China-Europe Railway Express
Station Burundai in Almaty Region, a 30-minute drive from downtown Almaty, is one of the largest international composite transport logistics centers in Central Asia.
In this giant composite transport hub station with a total area of 650,000 square meters, the temporary storage warehouse area is 100,000 square meters and the B+ class warehouse covers an area of more than 40,000 square meters. The logistics center can accommodate 15,000 TEU (20-foot containers), process up to 7,000 carriages per month, 2,500 trucks and more than 100 container trains.
In recent years amid digital transformation, "Made in Guangdong" new energy vehicles and other China-Europe Railway Express goods are efficiently sent to various places in Kazakhstan as well as Central Asia and Europe via here.
Zhaslan Khamzin, vice president of Atasu Group, the largest transport logistics group in Atasu, said there are more than 4,000 containers at Station Burundai. Among them, new energy vehicles made in China are directly transported from factories to this station and then distributed by trucks and other transportation.
"My dream car is a new energy car made by ZEEKER from China. I hope to own one in the future." Zhaslan Khamzin said, smiling.
Diverse and cost-effective. You can"t enjoy a good deal on Chinese goods even in China.
In the center of Almaty, there is a supermarket that specializes in selling Chinese goods - IVI City. This Chinese goods supermarket covers an area of more than 10,000 square meters and is not only the largest in Almaty, but also the largest in Kazakhstan, the world"s largest landlocked country. According to IVI City"s director Huang Jie, the supermarket has been growing at a rate of over 100% per month since it opened four months ago. When reporters visited the supermarket at around 8 p.m. local time, they found that even close to closing time, there were still many customers buying goods and lining up to pay.
Why is the supermarket so popular with locals? In addition to its good location, variety and affordability may be the most important factors. Reporters found that many goods sold in China are often more expensive than in Kazakhstan.
According to Huang Jie, IVI City has more than 10,000 kinds of goods - food, from rice, flour, oil to biscuits, spicy snacks and almost everything; pots and pans and other commonly used utensils, and fans, water dispensers, juicers and other daily appliances, as well as tents, recliners and other large outdoor supplies.
It is worth noting that 100% of the goods sold in IVI City are Chinese goods. "Chinese goods have very high quality and many goods can be used for around ten years." In Huang Jie"s view, compared with products from Japan, South Korea and other developed countries, Chinese goods are of better quality and lower prices.
The reporters found a very practical hex wrench on a shelf, the smallest model sold for only 30 KZT. If sold in China, the price is estimated to be more than 20 times. In addition, there are many exquisite porcelain bowls and plates, also sold for only 100 KZT or so. If in China, the price is often starting from five times.
Huang Jie said that the goods sold by IVI City are generally transported by large trucks from China by light weight, and heavy ones are transported by rail containers. Huang Jie told the reporters that the reason why some of the above-mentioned categories of goods can be sold at such low prices is partly that they can be transported in large quantities by frequent China-Europe Express trains.
The reporter also found a lot of "Made in Guangdong" products. "The knives, kitchen utensils and some high-end outdoor products sold here are all sourced from Guangdong." Huang Jie told the reporters that she plans to bring in small appliances produced in Guangdong in the future.
Like Huang Jie, who also sees the potential of "Made in Guangdong", Almaty businessman Azamat is also engaged in freight forwarding. Azamat"s company provides Central Asia and Russia railway transportation payment logistics services as well as Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan nationwide road transportation and agent customs clearance services.
Azamat has been to Shenzhen. He said his company was established more than ten years ago and expanded by enjoying the "dividend" of China-Europe Express trains. The company specializes in China"s import trade goods, with an annual agency fee of more than 6 billion KZT. Electronic products, mobile phones, accessories, headphones, accessories, furniture and other products produced in Guangdong are popular in the Central Asian market.
"This year is hot, so Guangdong-made cold water electric fans are popular. I think Guangdong products are popular not only because of their high quality but also because of their trendy design," said Azamat.
阿拉木图的中国元素
在哈萨克斯坦第一大城市，有着“经济引擎”之称的阿拉木图大街小巷，经常可以看到奇瑞、江淮、星途、哈弗等中国品牌的汽车。在阿拉木图的国际机场出发大厅，也可见华为笔记本的介绍。在前往当地的知名购物中心Mega商场路上，oppo、vovo等“广东造”产品的广告牌，在远方雪山映衬下，尤为醒目。
中国是哈萨克斯坦最大的贸易伙伴之一，去年双边贸易额达创纪录的311.7亿美元。今年上半年，双边贸易额已达182.5亿美元，同比增长26.8%，预计全年将再创历史新高。
数据显示，已有220家哈企集团业入驻阿里巴巴国际电商平台，京东的哈萨克斯坦国家馆开馆仅1个小时内，就售出了80%的现货商品。不久前，中国企业联合体成功中标哈最大火电站现代化改造项目，成为两国共建“一带一路”框架下又一标志性项目。
今年5月两国元首会晤期间，一致提出2030年前将两国贸易额提升至400亿美元。
中国助力，哈国汽车产业快速发展
站在哈萨克斯坦最大城市——阿拉木图闹市中，随处可见中国品牌汽车的身影：一辆辆长安、极氪牌的汽车在宽阔平整的道路上来回穿梭；街边的车位上错落停着哈弗、奇瑞牌的SUV；远处公交站停靠的客车，其车牌上方是“宇通”字样的车标……这些汽车，有的是中国造，但更多的还是哈萨克斯坦本国制造。在中国技术的助力下，哈萨克斯坦汽车产业快速发展。
据悉，近年来，哈萨克斯坦的汽车生产和销售快速增长，成为拉动当地经济增长的重要驱动力。其中，中国品牌汽车在哈知名度快速提升，销量呈大幅上升趋势。
据哈萨克斯坦汽车企业协会（Kazakhstan Auto Enterprise Association）数据显示，仅在2023年2月，哈国消费者就购买了13115辆汽车，汽车销量增长69%。今年初以来，哈萨克斯坦本国汽车产量、中国品牌汽车进口实现了双增长。
今年4月起，150辆宇通客车陆续从哈萨克斯坦当地的工厂下线，它们将被批量投入到哈萨克斯坦公交系统使用；奇瑞、长安、哈弗等国产汽车品牌在哈的组装厂计划于2025年投产，预计年产9万辆。
布隆迪站场：中欧班列中亚中转站
距离阿拉木图中心城区30分钟车程的阿拉木图州布隆迪站场，是中亚地区最大的国际复合式交通物流中心之一。
在这个占地总面积65万平方米的“巨无霸”复合式交通枢纽站场，暂存仓库面积为10万平方米，B+级仓库4万多平方米。该物流中心可容纳1.5万个 TEU（20英尺集装箱），每月可处理多达7000辆车皮，2500辆卡车和100多列集装箱班列。
近年来随着数字化运用，包括“广东造”新能源车等中欧班列货物，经由这里被高效快捷发往哈萨克斯坦各地以及中亚和欧洲。
当地最大的交通物流集团Atasu副总裁Zhaslan Khamzin表示，在布隆迪站场有超过4000个集装箱。其中，中国制造的新能源汽车就是从工厂被直接运到这个站场，再通过卡车等运输方式分销各地。
“我的梦中情车是中国产的新能源车极氪牌，希望未来能拥有一辆。”Zhaslan Khamzin微笑着说。
种类多性价比高，在中国都买不到这么划算的中国货
在阿拉木图的市中心，有一家专卖中国货的超市——IVI City。该超市占地面积超过10000平方米，不仅是阿拉木图，也是哈萨克斯坦面积这个世界上最大内陆国的“最大中国货超市”。据IVI City老板黄洁介绍，该超市今年开业4个月以来，每个月的营业额都以超100%的速度在增长。记者于当地时间晚上８时许探访该超市时发现，即使临近打烊，仍可见众多顾客在挑选商品和排队结账。
该超市为何备受当地人欢迎？除了地理位置优越之外，种类多且价格实惠，或许是最重要的因素。记者发现，不少商品如果在中国售卖，价格往往还高于哈萨克斯坦。
据介绍，IVI City商品种类超过10000种：吃的方面，从米面粮油到饼干辣条无所不包；用的方面，既有锅碗瓢盆这些常用的器具，又有风扇、饮水机、榨汁机等日常家电，还有帐篷、躺椅等大型的户外用品。
值得注意的是，IVI City所售的商品100%是中国货。“中国货的产品质量很好，很多商品用十年八年都不会坏。”此外，在黄洁看来，相比日韩等发达国家的商品，中国货的性价比很高。
记者在某个货架上发现一款很实用的六角扳手，其最小的型号仅售30坚戈（注：KZT，哈国货币)，如果在中国售卖，价格估计要20倍以上。此外，还有众多款式精致的瓷碗瓷碟，也仅售100多坚戈，如果在中国，售价往往要5倍起跳。
黄洁表示，IVI City所售商品中，轻的一般通过大卡车从国内运来，重的则通过铁路的集装箱运输。黄洁告诉记者，上述提到的几类商品之所以能卖这么便宜，其中一个原因就是它们可以通过密集开行的中欧班列，一整箱一整箱大批量运过来。
记者还发现了很多广东造的商品。“这里售卖的刀具、厨具和部分高端户外用品都进货自广东。”黄洁向记者透露，她未来还打算引进广东生产的小家电。
与黄洁同样看好“广东造”的还有从事货运代理的阿拉木图商人叶尔江（Azamat）。叶尔江的公司负责提供中亚及俄罗斯铁路运输付费物流服务以及俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦三国全境公路运输和代理清关服务。
叶尔江曾去过深圳，据他介绍，自己的公司十多年前成立，正是享受中欧班列“红利”而成长发展起来的。公司专门做中国进口货物贸易，一年代理费超过60亿坚戈。广东生产的电子产品、手机、配件、耳机，配饰，家具等都在中亚市场受欢迎。
“今年天气炎热，广东产的加冷水电风扇备受欢迎。我觉得，广东商品之所以受欢迎，不仅是因为质量好，设计也很新潮。”叶尔江说。
文｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 王丹阳 李志文图｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 曾育文译｜陈书君来源｜羊城晚报·羊城派责编｜王瑜瑛校对｜赵丹丹
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