The third China-Kazakhstan Economic and Social Research Forum is held at the Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE) on May 30. [Photo provided to ezhejaing.gov.cn]

The third China-Kazakhstan Economic and Social Research Forum was held at the Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE) on May 30. 

The forum was titled "China-Kazakhstan Economic and Social Cooperation amidst the Global Pandemic: Combating Covid-19 and Promoting Development". It was conducted online via a live broadcast. The main venue is located at ZUFE.

Zhong Xiaomin, president of ZUFE, extended a warm welcome to all guests on behalf of the school. He briefly discussed the work ZUFE has done over the years in light of cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.

Zhong emphasized that in the context of the global pandemic, ZUFE will pay more attention to prevention and control measures and the economic impact on Kazakhstan, contribute to the national Belt and Road Initiative, take full advantage of economic management disciplines and international education, and further promote the establishment of an academic platform (the first Chinese platform for economic and social research in Kazakhstan), so as to explore new areas of Sino-Kazakh cooperation in the context of the pandemic.

Zhang Xiao, Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan, discussed the current status of the pandemic in Kazakhstan and the preventative measures taken by the country. He spoke highly of the cooperation and mutual assistance between China and Kazakhstan throughout the pandemic.

Zhang proposed promoting project cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthening medical and health cooperation and preventative measures to build a "Healthy Silk Road", deepening scientific and technological innovation cooperation, strengthening the integration of innovative strategies between the two countries, and making good use of science and technology to help China and Central Asian countries fight the pandemic together.