INTERNATIONAL LAW AND COMPARATIVE LAW

International legal regulation of kazakhstani – chinese cooperation within the belt And road initiative: implementation challenges and institutional risks

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The relevance of the study stems from the contradictions between the declared objectives of strategic partnership and the actual socio-economic consequences of implementing joint mega-projects. Particular attention is paid to the alignment of the BRI with Kazakhstan’s state program Nurly Zhol, which constitutes the institutional foundation of bilateral interaction. The methodological framework includes a comparative analysis of export and import commodity structures, a structural-functional analysis of investment flows, and a qualitative assessment of the regulatory framework encompassing more than 250 bilateral agreements. Based on statistical data for 2021-2022 and investment figures as of September 2022, a structural trade asymmetry has been identified: Kazakhstan primarily acts as a supplier of raw materials (oil, gas, and metals), while imports of high-tech Chinese products continue to grow. In the investment sphere, a concentration of capital in the transport and logistics sector has been observed, reinforcing the country’s transit role but simultaneously generating social (attraction of foreign labor), technological (limited technology transfer), and environmental risks. The article concludes with recommendations aimed at mitigating the identified risks and facilitating Kazakhstan’s transition from a passive recipient of investments to an active strategic actor focused on production localization and the preservation of economic sovereignty.