On October 21, 2021, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier Han Zheng had a phone conversation with Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov in Beijing, during which both sides mainly exchanged views on the transit of goods through China-Kazakhstan border ports.

Han Zheng said that China and Kazakhstan should make joint endeavors to address the greater pressure on the transit of goods through the two countries' border ports as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with a positive attitude. The two countries should take targeted measures and go all out to ensure normal clearance of goods on the basis of effective pandemic response in border areas. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly study and solve the problems affecting transit of goods by railway, resume transit of goods through road ports, and strive to achieve results as quickly as possible. Han Zheng is expecting the co-chairing of the 10th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee by the two sides to map out the priorities for cooperation in the next stage.

Smailov said that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to its economic and trade cooperation with China, especially the transit of goods at border ports and that Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to ensure smooth movement of goods at Kazakhstan-China border ports and make a good preparation for the 10th Meeting of the Kazakhstan-China Cooperation Committee.