The China Pavilion at 2017 Astana Expo ushered in Inner Mongolia Week on August 22, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

President of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region Bu Xiaolin, Vice-Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhang Wei, China Charge d'affaires to Kazakhstan Liu Jiangping, and representatives from Kazakhstan attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

"The 2017 Astana Expo takes‘Future Energy' as its theme, which will definitely have a significant impact on world energy revolution and green development," President Bu Xiaolin remarked. Inner Mongolia, whose thermal, wind and solar power generation capacity and equipment technological level are in the front rank in China, is one of the country's most important clean energy bases. Inner Mongolia abounds with green agricultural and livestock products and its chemical industry is in top position domestically. Production and processing of non-ferrous metals and a large equipment manufacturing industry are among the area's advantages. The ancient grassland Silk Road and the emerging modern routes bind Kazakhstan, Central Asia and China ever closer together.

Vice-Chairman Zhang Wei said that China and Kazakhstan are connected by common mountains and rivers and their peoples have developed profound friendships. This year marks not only the 25th anniversary since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations, but is also focused on development of tourism between the two countries. China-Kazakhstan relations have witnessed comprehensive and rapid growth in recent years.

Inner Mongolia is enriched with natural resources and has enormous potential. Zhang hoped that Inner Mongolia will seize this opportunity, speed up new energy construction, and make greater progress through international exchange and cooperation.

Charge d'affaires Liu Jiangping commented that Inner Mongolia has witnessed rapid exploitation and utilization of new energy in recent years and its new energy technology has taken a world leading position. Liu pointed out that the similarities between Inner Mongolia and Kazakhstan's cultures and customs encourage cooperation, adding that a diversity of activities such as trade talks, cultural exchanges and product recommendations surely will push Inner Mongolia-Kazakhstan cooperation to a new height.

Chairwoman Larissa Dzhumagulova said that Kazakhstan is taking the initiative in attracting investments and its industrial plan is moving forward. The 10 existing industrial parks in the country have decent infrastructure and enjoy preferential subsidies and duty-free measures. She welcomed Inner Mongolia enterprises, expecting them to invest in Kazakhstan and play a part in its industrial development.

Governor Aidarov Almas Aidarovich welcomed the delegation of Inner Mongolia and said that 14 enterprises from the region will visit Qaraghandy Oblysy this week. He expressed his wishes that the two sides will further develop their friendly relationship through this platform.

At the opening ceremony, the General Office of the government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Qaraghandy Oblysy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Trade Cooperation and Friendly Areas, The Inner Mongolia Council for the Promotion of International Trade signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Friendship and Cooperation with the Association for Trade Promotion between Kazakhstan and China, and 16 contracts were signed.

To further promote cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, the delegation of Inner Mongolia performed an original Chinese dance drama Caravan (Tuo Dao) in the Astana Pyramid Theatre on August 21, bolstering the friendly contacts and good cooperation prospects between Inner Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Before the activities, President Bu Xiaolin and Vice-Chairman Zhang Wei visit the China Pavilion.

While visiting the China Pavilion, President Bu Xiaolin said that as part of the Belt and Road, Inner Mongolia will actively push forward strategic construction and strive to develop clean energy. Bu learned about many new energy technologies during her visit and expected Inner Mongolia to make the best of the technologies and realize green development.