Kazakhstan and China Build a Digital Bridge for the Data Economy
SHANGHAI, CN / ACCESS Newswire / November 4, 2026 / China and Kazakhstan deepened their cooperation in the data economy
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SHANGHAI, CN / ACCESS Newswire / November 4, 2026 / China and Kazakhstan deepened their cooperation in the data economy at the Global Data Ecosystem Conference 2026 (GDEC 2026) in Shanghai on Oct. 30-31, 2026. Kazakhstan participated as the Special Invited International Partner, a sign of the growing importance of data cooperation in relations between the two countries. At the opening session, its Bureau of National Statistics presented the country’s approach to building a data market. The Bureau is part of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, which oversees the development of the data economy.
On Oct. 31, Astana Data Exchange (ADX) and Shanghai Data Exchange (SDE) began to work on their first joint listing of data products so that data providers could offer them on both platforms. Industry associations, state-owned enterprises and private firms in finance and IT also joined a broader initiative on data markets, research on the digital economy and smart city projects.
Lu Yong, Executive Director of the Shanghai Data Service Provider Association and Chief Expert at the Shanghai Data Exchange, and Sarsen Zhanabekov, CEO of Astana Data Exchange, share the view that access to reliable data gives businesses a competitive advantage when they develop AI tools, build digital services or enter new markets. They also agree that Kazakhstan and China are working to make that resource easier to use securely across borders.
The cooperation reflects broader efforts by Kazakhstan and China to strengthen collaboration in digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The Kazakhstan-China Digital Bridge Initiative aims to expand digital trade and connect the two countries’ digital economies. For Kazakhstan, the initiative builds on its progress in digital development. The country is now exploring ways to unlock the economic value of data generated by its industries and public institutions.
If Kazakhstan and China connect their national data exchanges under rules both sides trust, other countries could use the same approach to share data securely and transparently.
From Digital Government to a Data Economy
Kazakhstan has built a highly digital economy, from public services to everyday banking. More than 90% of public services are available online, and the country ranked 24th among 193 countries in the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index. In 2025, 98.3% of personal payments and transfers in Kazakhstan were cashless.
Kazakhstan is building on this foundation to expand the use of AI and develop its data economy. Its Digital Qazaqstan strategy sets national priorities through 2029, including the use of AI across industries and the use of data in government decision making. The Law on Artificial Intelligence establishes rules for developing and using AI systems.
Under Kazakhstan’s Digital Code, in force since July 2026, organizations can exchange data products through registered platforms. Providers set the terms of use, and the products must exclude personal data that could identify individuals.
Kazakhstan is also developing a framework for treating data as an economic asset. It has adopted a method for valuing data products held by public agencies and state-owned enterprises.
China took an early lead in building a market for such assets when it recognized data as a factor of production in 2019. It has since set rules for using data, built a network of exchanges and introduced a national system for registering data rights. Its National Data Administration supports the development of industry datasets for training AI models.
A digital bridge between these markets would give Kazakhstan and China a stronger basis for joint work on AI. With agreed rules for secure access, researchers and businesses could draw on data from both countries to train models and build digital services for a wider market.
A Digital Bridge in Practice
One example of this digital bridge is the partnership between Astana Data Exchange and Shanghai Data Exchange. Their 2025 strategic cooperation agreement laid the groundwork for the joint listing. ADX, one of the platforms on Kazakhstan’s national register under the Digital Code, helps organizations list, find and exchange data products.
SDE is a leading hub for cross-border data exchange, connecting international providers with buyers in China and helping Chinese firms bring their data products to markets abroad. In 2026, it became one of three institutions designated to register data rights under China’s national system.
Eleven international providers, including KoDATA, are preparing to list products on ADX. Their products cover business information, finance, shipping and logistics, research and AI. The partnership could also help Kazakhstani providers offer data products and services in China, including market analysis based on aggregated, anonymized records. A data service could show a Chinese exporter where household appliances sell best in Kazakhstan without sharing individual sales receipts.
China’s experience with data assets suggests a next step for the partnership. The exchanges could agree on how to value data products and register rights in them. Banks could then assess whether those rights can serve as collateral. In shared data spaces, partners could agree on who may use sensitive records. Confidential computing could let them analyze those records together while keeping the underlying data private.
What This Means for Trade and Investment
Secure data exchange could help Kazakhstan and China expand trade and investment. Bilateral trade reached $48.7 billion in 2025, according to Chinese customs figures. As their data markets develop, sharing verified records could help the two countries reach their $100 billion target by speeding up border checks and customs clearance.
An importer could verify a supplier’s registration, a shipment’s origin or a product certificate. A Chinese exporter could check a Kazakhstani distributor’s trading history before offering credit. A retailer choosing a site for a store in Almaty could use aggregated mobility data to compare foot traffic across neighborhoods.
A global network of data exchanges could widen access while leaving providers in control of who may use their data and for what purpose. If those terms are clear and enforceable across borders, more countries could use shared data to build their own AI tools and digital services and expand trade and investment.
About Yicai Media Group
Yicai Media Group is the financial news arm of Shanghai Media Group, one of China’s largest state-owned media conglomerates. The group provides news, information and analysis covering the economy, finance, technology, startups and entrepreneurship. Yicai Media Group also served as one of the organizers of the Global Data Ecosystem Conference 2026 (GDEC 2026), held in Shanghai on October 30-31, 2026.
Media Contact
Jiawei Qian
qianjiawei@yicai.com
SOURCE: Yicai Media Group
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