Ïðàâî/11. _____________________
Boldurukova N.,
Ph.D student at the Eurasian National University named after L.N.
Gumilyov, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Political Science
Role
of migration process in building relations
between
China and Kazakhstan
Migration
processes are intensifying around the world due to the forces of globalization.
The modern stage of globalization leads to free movement of capital, people and
ideas between countries and even continents. This process has profound effect
on state policy making in the wake of the global uncertainties and insecurities.
In the address to the people of Kazakhstan President N.Nazarbayev STRATEGY “Kazakhstan-2050”
instructed the Government to develop and approve a Complex plan to resolve the
migration problems in 2013 year. [1] This plan shall look at the migration
patterns from the neighboring countries.
Starting from the
first years of independence Kazakhstan devotes special priority to the
strategic relations with China. This is primarily related to the global
geopolitical situation and the socio-economic potential of the countries.
Up to date the
relationship between Kazakhstan and China is developing on the grounds of close
cooperation at the level of strategic partnership. For this to happen Nursultan
Nazarbayev, the Head of State of Kazakhstan, has created a set of political
preconditions. The relations based on respect and friendship between the two
countries started since independence. At the time the skills of the President
of Kazakhstan to build a relationship with the Chinese leader Jiang Zemin on
the basis of understanding and trust, influenced the formation of cooperation
between Kazakhstan and China. This makes it possible to solve many complex
issues, such as the resettlement of ethnic Kazakhs from China to Kazakhstan,
transboundary rivers issue and other problems, while safeguarding the interests
of both sides.
The relationship
based on friendship and cooperation helped to find solutions to a number of
sensitive issues and pave the way for the dynamic development of trade and
economic relations. The official visit of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to the People's Republic of China in April of
this year, once again proved that the strong cooperation between the two
countries is ongoing. [2]
China has a
population of 1.3 billion people and is the largest country by the number of people,
on average, every fourth person in the world is Chinese. By landmass size it is
ranked third after Russia and Canada. It is anticipated that in the future
China's role in the world affairs is bound to rise. This factor gives the
opportunity to further increase geopolitical cooperation between the states.
In the last
quarter of the twentieth century the process of Chinese people resettlement to other
foreign countries has begun. The increased Chinese migration to the United
States of America, Russia and Central Asia causes widespread use of such terms
as "yellow peril", "demographic expansion", "Chinese grip",
"awakening of the East". It's not a secret that expansion in the legal
migration is followed by illegal migration. Definitely these processes are in the
early stages. The migration is caused by excessive population density and low
standard of living.
The migration process
has significant economic underpinning, because it is difficult to provide jobs in
China for so many people. The issues of providing food for a billion
population, increasing unemployment in the cities, excess of labor force in the
villages, the flow of peasants to cities in search of work - all these lead to
a search for work and better life outside of China. Moreover in recent years,
China has experienced increase in the number of droughts and floods due to
climatic factors, which increasingly contribute to severe erosion and
desertification of land by making it unfit for crops (year on year the increase
in the area of the desert is 2330 square meters). This has led to a significant
reduction in agricultural production capacity. [3]
Despite the state
policy to control the birth rate, the population of China increases annually by
8-10 million people. Hence this deteriorates demographic situation, as the
number of people 2 times exceeds the available provision of food, water and
other supplies.
Thus the local governments
due to economic factors support opportunities for migration of Chinese people to
other countries. Hence there is no restriction on the departure of the citizens
abroad. [4]
Chinese migration
to Kazakhstan started in the 1990-th. This process began with public policy
based on friendship between the two neighboring countries.
The labor migration
flow to Kazakhstan is based on a number of factors, which make the country
attractive to migrants. At present time Kazakhstan is open for international business,
there is abundance of jobs and there are plenty of opportunities to lead a
successful business. Moreover the wages in Kazakhstan are several times higher
than in China. The migration process is possible due to the shortcomings in
functioning of the foreign enterprises and citizens’ registration and control
services system, also a big role is played by corruption in Kazakhstan.
The increase in
the number of Chinese companies in Kazakhstan fosters migration of labor from
China. According to the statistics in Kazakhstan more than 80 Chinese companies
are registered working in the oil and gas, textile, plastic and heavy machinery
industries, while the service sector has around 4,000 Chinese enterprises.
Chinese migrant workers are mainly employed in the service, retail and
construction sectors. These are the most popular jobs among Chinese migrant workers.
[5]
Another aspect of
Chinese migration is the return to homeland of ethnic Kazakhs living in China.
Today in more than 40 countries around the world approximately live around five
million Kazakhs. Another 1 million of compatriots live in Russia, while Uzbekistan
has 1.5 million of Kazakhs. It is known that among all of the neighbors the
largest population of ethnic Kazakhs lives in China. Approximately two million
Kazakhs associate their home with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Area of China.
It is known that those Kazakhs have preserved their native language, traditions
and customs. However, there is an increased risk of assimilation with the Chinese
population. Native Kazakhs in China are concerned with the preservation of
language by teaching their children Kazakh language. Even this factor alone
shows that ethnic Kazakhs associate their future and destiny only with
Kazakhstan.
The first steps
to relocate Kazakhs from the foreign countries started with the adoption of a
special program, which was devised by the government in the early 1990-th. On 18
November 1991 the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution of the Supreme Council
of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic "On the order and arrangement of relocation
of the representatives of local ethnicity, who have expressed the desire to
work in agriculture sector by arriving from abroad and other republics to Kazakhstan".
The resolution was the first document that opened the gateway for Kazakhs to
return to their historic homeland from abroad. In 1992, the Law of the Republic
of Kazakhstan "On Migration" was adopted, where full assistance and
protection to migrants is given, including provision of housing or long-term
loans and dealing with adaptation issues.
Since early 1997, the migration issue is under
jurisdiction of the Agency of migration and demography. This Agency has one of its
priorities to increase the population of Kazakhstan by promoting the efforts to
return ethnic Kazakhs to their homeland from abroad.
In general,
during the 1991-2000 period to Kazakhstan returned 41,000 families, what constitutes
176,000 people. Many of them moved to Kazakhstan without government assistance,
known as quota system.
Nevertheless,
there are many difficulties on their way to homeland. Including the concern for
availability of jobs and housing to repatriates. Also, the challenges along the
path to obtain Kazakhstan citizenship are discouraging repatriates from returning
to their native land. The state assistance is provided to those who returned to
Kazakhstan within the quota system, as they are provided with housing and jobs.
But the fact that many repatriates who arrived outside of quota system are left
one on one with their problems stays the truth. This indicates the need to
increase the migration quota. It shall be noted that some steps were taken to
provide legal assistance to repatriates. Moreover, the conclusions of contracts
regarding the education and labor sectors between Kazakhstan and foreign
countries are having positive effects on migration issue.
The World
Congress of Kazakhs makes contribution to the efforts of assisting in arrival
to their homeland of native Kazakhs. The first congress was held in Almaty in
1992, it was attended by over 800 delegates from 33 countries where Kazakhs are
residing. At this congress a World association of Kazakhs was established,
Nazarbayev was appointed as a chairman. The congress explores different aspects
of nation’s life, solves the problems of social, cultural and spiritual life of
the Kazakhs. The congress is held once every five years [5].
"Despite the
difficult period before the dawn of independence, the streets are filled with
cars. Since then, the great migration effort has not stopped for a minute. To
their homeland, associated with their ancestors, within the period of 20 years about
300,000 families returned. Thus, the number of the population has increased by
over a million of repatriates"- said Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President
of Kazakhstan, Chairman of the World Association of Kazakhs, in his address to
the IV World Congress of Kazakhs in May 2011. [6]
Returning to their
homeland Kazakhs have made significant contribution to the country’s culture
and economy. Among repatriates there are many intellectuals - scientists,
writers and artists. They feel a great joy in serving their country.
Today the global
migration of the Chinese population has become a major problem worrying many
countries. This is caused by overpopulation, unemployment, and other problems.
In this sense it is clear that the number of Chinese migrants coming to Kazakhstan
for trade and employment purposes is increasing. For this reason Kazakhstan
shall strengthen the relevant legislation and responsibility for transgressing
laws. This issue needs to be addressed in the light of the ethnic, cultural and
religious interests of the country.
It is noted that
the character traits of repatriates display unique traditional Kazakh cultural
traits of kindness, compassion, generosity and tolerance. Oralmans or
repatriates easily mingle with the local population and contribute to the
development of Kazakh identity. They are enriching and recovering national
heritage, customs, traditions, cultural and religious believes. These cultural
values are adapted to the demands of present time and preserved for transfer to
the future generations.
To find our place
in the global association and civilization we need to have strong state foundations.
Those foundations beside priorities of the state include values
such as unity, order, association, friendship, harmony of
religion and culture. In this sense the cultural and religious renewal of the
people is an important task of building the state while generating the concept
of a single national state with shared goals and desires. That is
why within the first years of sovereignty the World Association of Kazakhs was
established by Kazakhstan.
The head of state
Nursultan Nazarbayev is frequently talking about the big task facing the young
generation and the need to remove all obstacles for young people who want to
learn. "I call on all young Kazakhs living in the most remote corners of
the earth to come to get education and to work at home. At the moment, Kazakhstan
is starting a new stage of development, which will require patriotic, educated
young professionals. If young boys and girls come here to get education or employment
most probably they will bring their parents"- said the President of
Kazakhstan at the IV World Congress of Kazakhs. [7]
For this purpose,
special rules have been approved for admission of the repatriates to the
universities of our country. In many state education institutions young
repatriates can undergo university foundation program. Their desire to obtain education,
learn the ways to use new technologies, apply knowledge for the prosperity of the
country gained from the countries where they lived, worked or obtained
education in the past is demonstrating their patriotism.
As it was noted
the migration to Kazakhstan from China comes in two forms. The most desirable
is the return of ethnic Kazakhs, who can contribute to cultural and economic
development of the country. While migration of Chinese workers is only valuable
as economic contribution, what makes it less desirable.
Bibliography:
1.
Nazarbayev N. Address
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established state”//
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2.
Abdrahmanov S. Meeting
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3.
Kozhirova
S. Factors of Chinese migration // www.enu.kz/downloads/lichnie-stranici/kitaiskaya-migraciya
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Chinese migration to Kazakhstan
// www.apn.kz/publications/article398.htm
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// www.minber.kz
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Nazarbayev N. Sovereignty achievements. – Almaty: Atamura,
2003. – 336 pages.