Kazakhstan: Ministry Refutes Claims of 1.7 Million Hectares Being Transferred to China

False claims are circulating on social media, alleging that Kazakhstan is transferring 1.7 million hectares of agricultural land to China, with negotiations supposedly ongoing since 2009. This information is untrue, Orda.kz reports, citing StopFake.kz.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly denied the claims, emphasizing that they are fabricated. The Ministry reminded the public that knowingly spreading false information via the media and the Internet is punishable by law, and urged citizens to rely solely on official sources.

The Ministry of Agriculture clarified that foreigners, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities are prohibited from owning or leasing agricultural land in Kazakhstan, as stipulated by Articles 23 and 24 of the Land Code.

Exceptions apply only to land allocated for the construction of industrial, residential, and non-industrial facilities — not agricultural land. Furthermore, land located in border zones cannot be transferred to private ownership or leased under any circumstances.

The Ministry also noted that temporary land use rights granted to foreigners for agricultural land prior to July 1, 2016, remain valid only until their lease agreements expire and will not be renewed.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov