Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE) hosts the fourth China-Kazakhstan Online Forum on Economic and Social Research on Nov 27. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE), located in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, hosted the fourth China-Kazakhstan Online Forum on Economic and Social Research on Nov 27.

The forum's theme is stated as "China-Kazakhstan Economic and Social Cooperation in the Post-pandemic Era: Complementarity, Innovation, and Development".

Among the participants were scholars from Kazakhstan Eurasian University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, Lanzhou University, ZUFE, Xinjiang Normal University, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, the Zhejiang Technical Institute of Economics, and the China News Service, officials from both the Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan embassy in China, and entrepreneurs from the Kazakhstan China Trade Promotion Association and Xinjiang Sanbao Industrial Group.

Zhong Xiaomin, president of ZUFE, said at the opening ceremony of the forum that ZUFE has contributed a lot to China-Kazakhstan cooperation in scientific research, talent training, and cultural exchange and would do more in the post-pandemic era.

Zhang Xiao, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan, said that the Research Institute for Kazakhstan Economic and Social Studies (RIKESS), established by the ZUFE, is the first-ever academic platform founded by universities in the field of finance and economics to carry out in-depth research into Kazakhstan. He added that the RIKESS has become a key think tank in service of the Belt and Road Initiative and has been praised by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Baglan Zholdakhme, Director of the Political Office of the Kazakh Embassy in China, stressed that priority areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China include joint response to global climate issues, green energy, and transportation and logistics. He expressed hope that academics could offer advice on how to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic and help the two countries tap into even more cooperation opportunities.

Zhong Xiaomin, president of ZUFE, gives a speech at the forum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]