Kazakhstan’s visa application center opened in Beijing. This is the first time the Kazakh government decided to outsource the visa services. Now the Chinese citizens don’t have to visit the Kazakh Embassy to get the visa to come to Kazakhstan. The application process takes from 3 to 5 business days. One of the leading international companies TLScontact will carry out outsourced visa services. In China the company provides visa services to Germany, Switzerland, France, Hungary and Cyprus.

WEI HONGTAO, VICE CHAIRMAN, CHINA’S NATIONAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION:
- By the decision of the leaders of the two countries, 2017 was declared the year of China's tourism in Kazakhstan. The tourist flow between the countries reached 500,000 people. This number will increase. The Government of Kazakhstan is simplifying and improving visa procedures.

Visa application center will provide only administrative and technical services such as the reception and verification of documents, filling in visa application forms, charging consular fees and providing support. The decision to issue a visa is still made by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in China.

YERLAN KOZHAGAPANOV, KAZAKH VICE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND SPORTS:
- At present, tourism is the second most profitable sphere after the oil industry. Therefore, we must find our niche in this area. The main goal of the visa center is to develop tourism between the two countries, and to increase the flow of tourists.

ARDAK MADIYEV, DIRECTOR, CONSULAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT, KAZAKH FOREIGN MINISTRY:
- We signed two agreements with the Chinese side in 2015. The first is aimed at developing tourism potential and attracting Chinese tourists to Kazakhstan, the second agreement is to simplify visa issuance for Chinese citizens traveling to Kazakhstan for business purposes. This visa application center was created according to the latest requirements. A simplified visa processing was introduced.

Kazakhstan and China are implementing more than 50 projects in the sphere of industry, innovations, transport and logistics.