Astana - September 19, 2022. The Public Association "Center for Analysis and Strategy 'Beles'", in partnership with Astana International University (AIU) and the Institute for the "One Belt, One Road" Strategy of Tsinghua University (PRC), held a strategic scientific seminar.

The event was the final stage of a large-scale joint international study conducted by experts from the two countries in April–August of this year.

This seminar was organized as a platform to defend the results of the research work done by the "Beles" Center team and Tsinghua scientists.

In a teleconference mode uniting Astana, Almaty, Beijing, Nanjing, and Lianyungang, our experts presented an evidence base on the topic "Kazakhstan's Participation in the Chinese BRI Initiative and the Joint Construction of the New Eurasian Land Bridge".

The conclusions of this study formed the basis of a historical decision: dynamically developing cooperation requires the creation of a permanent analytical infrastructure.

The relevance of the research presentation was dictated by the political calendar. The discussion took place immediately after the state visit of PRC President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan (September 14 of this year) and in the year of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Our platform became the first practical step to implement the agreements of the leaders of the two countries at the expert level.

During the presentation of the research results, experts from the "Beles" Center and Chinese colleagues identified a systemic risk.

According to the voiced data:

• Over 30 years, trade turnover between the countries has increased 70 times.
• However, a 70-fold strengthening of expert-analytical support has not occurred.

"Such a situation carries risks that inevitably accompany all large-scale projects without proper monitoring and analysis. The economy is outpacing thought, and we must eliminate this imbalance," stated the seminar resolution.

To fill this gap identified during the study, Kazakhstani and Chinese scientists came to a consensus.

An intention to create a joint analytical center (Think Tank) was recorded.

Its tasks were defined as:

• Monitoring the implementation of "Belt and Road" initiatives.
• Analysis of the efficiency of the construction of the New Eurasian Land Bridge.
• Expert assessment of proposals for cooperation between Kazakhstan and Jiangsu province.

The September 19 seminar drew a line under the stage of one-off studies and laid the foundation for systemic work.

Now logistics development will be based on precise expert-analytical assessments, guaranteed by the partnership of the "Beles" Center and Tsinghua University.