Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed support for Kazakhstan joining the BRICS bloc, according to Chinese state-run media reports.

During a meeting in Astana with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Xi emphasised Kazakhstan's potential role as a middle power in global governance and endorsed its accession to BRICS. This group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is considering further expansion to challenge Western-dominated global structures.

China and Russia have been advocating for BRICS expansion, and the bloc recently agreed to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, although Saudi Arabia has not yet joined. Argentina had also planned to join but withdrew after President Javier Milei took office in December.

Xi Jinping is in Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of state meeting on July 3-4. During his discussions with Tokayev, both leaders agreed to double bilateral trade and enhance cooperation in oil and gas sectors. Last year, Kazakhstan's exports to China were dominated by crude oil and petroleum gases, amounting to $3.8bn and $1.5bn, respectively.

Additionally, Xi and Tokayev committed to ensuring the long-term, safe and stable operation of the crude oil pipeline between their countries and the Kazakhstan section of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, which extends from China's Xinjiang region to Turkmenistan.