Kazakhstan-China ties.
Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov visited Beijing on December 10 for the third annual meeting of the Kazakhstan-China Business Council. The previous gathering took place in December 2014 in Astana, and was attended by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Ties between the two countries are strengthening despite a sharp decline in bilateral trade due to low oil prices and Beijing's weaker demand for Kazakhstan's commodities. China remains one of Kazakhstan's strategic partners, together with Russia and the West, and is poised to expand its influence across Central Asia.
Trade between Kazakhstan-China is unlikely to recover until oil prices stabilise at pre-2014 levels, which is unlikely before 2018.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev's administration will maintain a balance between Russia and China.
Kazakhstan will remain a marginal factor in Chinese foreign policy in both economic and diplomatic terms.
