Chen Liangxian attends the opening ceremony of the Kazakhstan Consulate General in Guangzhou. [Photo/gdfao.gd.gov.cn]

Kazakhstan has opened a consulate general in Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong province, marking a significant step in strengthening relations between the Central Asian country and southern China.

Chen Liangxian, a member of the Leading Party Members Group of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, Liu Bin, assistant foreign minister, and Khrat Nuryshev, Kazakh ambassador to China, attended the opening ceremony, which was held in Guangzhou on June 2.

Addressing the event, Chen highlighted the importance of the new consulate in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between Kazakhstan and southern China, particularly Guangdong, and expressed the province's willingness to work with the Kazakh Embassy in China and the new consulate general to advance the high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, align the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy with Kazakhstan's "Bright Path" program to create a better future.

Liu noted the close relations between China and Kazakhstan, saying that the establishment of the consulate general in Guangzhou would serve as a new bridge for further exchanges and collaboration between southern China and Kazakhstan.

Nureyeshev said that the opening of the new consulate general is a vivid reflection of deepening sub-national exchanges and cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, and it would play an active role in consolidating the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Consulate General in Guangzhou is the fourth consular institution established by Kazakhstan in China.