High-quality flour from Kazakhstan is now becoming a new choice for many restaurants in Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi Province, reflecting growing agricultural trade ties within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
As one of the world's key grain exporters, Kazakhstan has in recent years deepened agricultural cooperation with Chinese companies under the contract farming model. This approach allows Chinese grain and oil enterprises to guide Kazakh farmers in growing crops according to demand in the Chinese market, facilitating the import of high-quality agricultural products.
The Aiju Agricultural Product Logistics Processing Park, invested by the Xi'an Aiju Grain and Oil Industrial Group, was officially put into operation in North Kazakhstan Region at the end of 2016.
In 2021, the Aiju Agricultural Product Logistics Processing Park was designated as an SCO agricultural technology exchange and training base, further strengthening bilateral collaboration.
"We began building the factory in 2016, starting from a barren piece of land. To date, we have established a flour production line with an annual processing capacity of 200,000 tons," said Lu Peijie, deputy manager of Aiju Agricultural Product Logistics Processing Park in Kazakhstan.
The partnership exemplifies a two-way exchange where premium agricultural products from SCO member states reach Chinese consumers, while Chinese technology helps upgrade local production capabilities in member states.
"In the first half of this year, over 200,000 tons of grain and oil products, feed materials, and edible oils were continuously transported via the China-Europe Railway Express to our Xi'an Chanba International Port. We aim to develop the industrial park in North Kazakhstan Region into a platform for outward investment and trade, fostering truly mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win outcomes between Chinese and Kazakh companies," said Liu Dongmeng, senior official of Xi'an Aiju Grain and Oil Industrial Group.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China, in the first seven months of 2025, China's total import and export value with other SCO member states via land and air transport reached 677.4 billion yuan (around 94.7 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 7.4 percent year-on-year increase.
Notably, Shaanxi Province's import-export volume with Kazakhstan surged to 2.82 billion yuan, an increase of 155.8 percent compared with the same period last year, signaling robust regional economic momentum.
Kazakh flour gains popularity in Xi'an via SCO-facilitated trade cooperation
