On November 27, 2025, the red silk for the ribbon - cutting spread out in the cold wind, and the moment of the plaque - unveiling was frozen in the camera lenses — Tahota Law Firm's Almaty Office was officially inaugurated. This marks a solid step forward in Tahota's global layout, and also signifies that the firm has formally entered the new track of legal services in Central Asia, ushering in a new chapter of cross - border legal cooperation oriented toward the hinterland of Eurasia.

Opening Westward · Cross-Regional Synergy

Almaty, known as the "City of Apples", is located at the northern foot of the Tian Shan Mountains. It is Kazakhstan's most economically dynamic and internationalized city. As one of the world's largest landlocked countries, Kazakhstan connects China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe, serving as a crucial hub linking the Eurasian continent. Almaty, in particular, stands as the country's financial center, trade hub, and a gathering place for multinational enterprises, wielding significant influence in regional energy economics, mineral development, infrastructure construction, and cross-border investment sectors.

Tahota's decision to establish a presence in Almaty is a proactive response to China's "Going West" strategy and a forward-looking layout to address the emerging legal needs along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The launch of the Almaty Office signifies Tahota's official integration into an economic corridor spanning the Eurasian continent, granting access to a highland of legal services brimming with potential, vitality, and opportunities.

Tahota firmly believes that the future of legal services will inevitably move towards a collaborative model characterized by "cross-institutional, cross-cultural, and cross-professional synergy." To this end, Tahota looks forward to joining hands with Kazakhstani legal peers, Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan, and local institutions to jointly explore new paths for the rule of law in the Central Asian market and embrace the opportunities of the times.

Zhai Fangyuan, Managing Partner of Tahota's Almaty Office, served as the host, with Consultant Hu Hongping and Lawyer Peng Suping acting as Russian interpreters.

Gathering of Distinguished Guests · Joint Celebration of the Grand Event

More than 30 guests attended the ceremony, including: Jin Xiaomeng, Vice President of the Lawyers Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and President of the Urumqi Lawyers Association; Patziret Abu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Urumqi Lawyers Association; Zhyholtasbek Muslimovich Nushenov, Rector of the Caspian University of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Gulnar Bakirovna Baigazina, Vice President of the Almaty City Lawyers Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and her representative Angelik Rehmanbierdien; Melambek Mahanbetaliyevich Kanibekov, Deputy Director of the Almaty City "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs; Erken Mukash, China Practice Partner of Unicox Law Firm in Almaty; Mars Nukenovich Arzabayev, Almaty-based lawyer; Zhang Zhen, Vice President of Central Asia Interconnection (Xinjiang) Holding Group Co., Ltd. (a Chinese-funded enterprise in Kazakhstan); Wang Xiaobo, General Manager of the Kazakhstan Branch of Yema Group (a Chinese-funded enterprise in Kazakhstan); Xie Yonggang, Representative of the Sichuan Provincial Association for the Promotion of Economic and Trade Cooperation along the Belt and Road; a delegation from Xinjiang Chiyuan Tianhe Certified Public Accountants, including Yang Jun, Feng Yanping, and Li Baoxia; Li Shan, Managing Director of Zhong Lun Law Firm's Almaty Office; Liu Xuelian, Managing Director of Yingke Law Firm's Kazakhstan Office; Ju Jie, Deputy Director of Xinjiang Tianxue Law Firm; as well as representatives from various Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan.

Cheng Shoutai, Chief Partner of Tahota Law Firm; Bai Li, Managing Director of the Urumqi Office; Zhai Fangyuan, Managing Partner of the Almaty Office; Ma Chunyan, Gan Jianming, Zhang Tianyi, Zheng Wenwen, and Hu Xian, Members of the International Legal Service Management Center; Zhou Zheng, Executive Dean of the Institute of Strategic Development; as well as partners and lawyers from various Tahota offices, jointly witnessed this important moment.

During the event, Cheng Shoutai, Chief Partner of Tahota Law Firm, led a delegation to pay a visit to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty. The two parties exchanged views on issues such as compliance protection for Chinese-funded enterprises and cross-border legal service cooperation.

Office Inauguration · Jointly Building a New Journey

The plaque unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off in front of Tahota's office located at 63 Adi Sherpov Street, Almaty.

Subsequently, the signing of multiple agreements, including framework cooperation agreements, business cooperation agreements, and talent training agreements, was successfully completed one after another. These agreements involve various parties such as Kazakhstani law firms, local lawyers, Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan, Xinjiang-based law firms, and university representatives, fully embodying the cooperative philosophy of "Win-Win, Sharing, and Common Development."

Tahota entered into a framework cooperation agreement with a Kazakhstani law firm, established cooperative relations with local lawyers, signed legal service agreements with 5 Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan, reached cross-border business cooperation with Xinjiang-based local law firms, and jointly launched a talent training program with universities in Kazakhstan. The signing of each agreement is not only the starting point of cooperation but also the accumulation of trust, injecting new momentum into building a more standardized, efficient, and open legal service ecosystem.

Panel Discussion & Exchange · Collaboratively Exploring Legal Governance

Bai Li, Dean of Tahota's Central Asian Legal Research Institute and Managing Director of the Urumqi Office, delivered the opening speech first. She stated that the establishment of the Almaty Office is a key initiative of Tahota to respond to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and practice legal governance synergy. Taking this opportunity, Tahota will build a bridge for legal services between China and Kazakhstan.

Jin Xiaomeng, Vice President of the Lawyers Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and President of the Urumqi Lawyers Association, expressed his appreciation for Tahota's expansion into the Central Asian market in his speech, and looked forward to the firm setting a benchmark for cooperation between the legal professions of the two regions.

From the perspective of educational cooperation, Zhyholtasbek Muslimovich Nushenov, Rector of Caspian University of the Republic of Kazakhstan, looked forward to a bright prospect of jointly cultivating cross-border legal talents through collaboration between Kazakhstani universities and Chinese law firms.

Angelika Rehmanbierdien, Representative of the Almaty City Lawyers Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan, extended a warm welcome to Tahota's arrival, emphasizing that this will promote the internationalization of the legal environment in Kazakhstan.

Melambek Mahanbetaliyevich Kanibekov, Deputy Director of the Almaty City "Atameken" National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stated in his speech that the Chamber focuses on enterprise development, provides comprehensive support for entrepreneurs, deepens China-Kazakhstan economic and trade exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and injects sustained momentum into the development of both regions.

Zhang Zhen, Vice President of Central Asia Interconnection (Xinjiang) Holding Group Co., Ltd. and a guest representing Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan, also shared the urgent demand for professional legal services in practical operations and expressed high expectations for Tahota's Almaty Office.

Cheng Shoutai, Chief Partner of Tahota Law Firm, stated in his speech: "From Southwest China to the heart of Central Asia, Tahota has always adhered to the philosophy of 'Global Vision, Local Action.' The Almaty Office is not only a crucial node in Tahota's global network but also a concrete practice of participating in building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Legal Community and safeguarding international commercial exchanges. Establishing a presence in Central Asia is not merely a physical extension of our geographical footprint, but a vivid manifestation of the spirit of the rule of law transcending mountains and seas to serve the world."

In the future, Tahota will continue to uphold professionalism with compassion, take law as the bridge and faith as the sail, write a new chapter of cooperation in the broad landscape of Central Asia, contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the global cause of the rule of law, and live up to the times and the trust bestowed upon us.