The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is in talks to establish stock-trading links with the equity exchanges of Hong Kong and Shanghai, according to officials speaking on May 5, 2026 [1].
The proposed connection would likely begin with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that could be traded across these markets. AIFC governor Renat Bekturov said an ETF exchange between Kazakhstan and China would probably be denominated in the Kazakh tenge and the Chinese yuan [1]. Kazakhstan and China agreed to a currency swap worth 7 billion yuan and 200 billion tenge in 2014, creating a financial foundation for such cooperation [1].
Bekturov highlighted growing demand from Kazakh investors for Chinese companies, stating that "Kazakh investors’ interest in Chinese companies, from hi-tech behemoths to carmakers, was growing" [1]. He also said that mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors "would also be keen to own shares of mining companies in his country," suggesting cross-border investment appeal in both directions [1].
Bekturov made the remarks while attending a conference in Shanghai focused on capital market connectivity with the mainland’s financial hub [1]. The talks represent efforts to deepen financial ties and open new pathways for investors in Kazakhstan and China.
If finalized, the trading links would create new options for investors to buy ETFs spanning the two markets, facilitating easier access across the region’s equity exchanges. The currency swap agreement from 2014, valued at approximately US$982 million yuan and US$371 million tenge, remains a key backbone for cross-border financial transactions between the countries [1].
