BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 17. President of
Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed launching the
''Kazakhstan-China Digital Bridge'' initiative.


This was reported by the press service of the Kazakh president,
following Tokayev's address at the opening ceremony of the World
Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai.


According to the Kazakh leader, this program is designed to
stimulate digital trade and create a practical model for
integrating the digital economies of both nations within the
framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. To deepen this
technological partnership, Tokayev requested the support of the
Chinese government to officially declare 2027 as the Year of Joint
AI Initiatives between Kazakhstan and China.


Highlighting Kazakhstan's unique strategic advantages, the
President emphasized that the country possesses all the necessary
prerequisites to become a dynamic center of technological
connectivity and digital trade. He pointed out that Kazakhstan’s
vast energy resources, critical mineral deposits, modern transport
corridors, and rapidly expanding digital infrastructure offer
unprecedented opportunities to integrate regional markets and
innovation ecosystems. To capitalize on these assets, digital
transformation has been elevated to a national priority through the
''Digital Kazakhstan – 2029'' strategy, alongside the adoption of a
dedicated Law on Artificial Intelligence and a comprehensive
Digital Code. Furthermore, the country is actively developing the
digital city of Alatau under a special constitutional legal regime
to attract global tech giants, while Almaty is set to host the UN
ESCAP Asia-Pacific Center for Digital Solutions for Sustainable
Development.







Building on these domestic milestones, President Tokayev
advanced several major international proposals to strengthen global
and regional AI governance. As a co-founder of the newly
established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization
(WAICO), he offered Kazakhstan’s capital as the venue for the
body's landmark first gathering and proposed expanding its
institutional footprint in the region.


''For us, it would be an honor to host the inaugural meeting of
the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in
Astana, President Tokayev stated. ''We also propose establishing a
regional representative office of the Organization for Central Asia
in Kazakhstan.''


Furthermore, the President called for the accelerated, secure
deployment of AI technologies across critical economic sectors,
including manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture, healthcare,
and water resource management. To ensure safe implementation, he
urged the international community to harmonize national regulatory
approaches and establish common global standards for testing and
certifying AI systems. Tokayev concluded by stressing the urgent
need to develop robust, coordinated safeguards to counter emerging
digital risks, specifically targeting cyber threats, deepfakes, and
digital fraud.