Flourishing cultural exchanges deepen China–Central Asia ties

Cultural cooperation between China and Central Asia is gaining new momentum, as a series of high-profile initiatives and people-to-people exchanges continue to bolster regional ties.

From vocational education and mutual visa policies to tourism and heritage preservation, recent efforts reflect the broadening scope and depth of engagement since the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in 2023.

A key symbol of this growing collaboration was the launch of the first China–Central Asia cultural tourism train. Departing from Xi’an, in China’s Shaanxi Province, on May 29, the train arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on May 31. The 57-hour journey marked the beginning of a four-day cultural event featuring exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage, traditional Chinese medicine, and historical artifacts, offering a platform for direct cultural exchange.

“The train will take on the new mission of cultural and tourism exchanges and inject strong new impetus into the cultural and people-to-people cooperation between China and Kazakhstan,” said Jiang Wei, China’s general consul in Almaty.

The special service is one of the outcomes of the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit, where China and the five Central Asian nations agreed to expand cooperation across multiple sectors, including culture, education, and tourism. The second summit is scheduled for later this year in Kazakhstan.

In vocational training, China’s “Luban Workshop” program has become a cornerstone of regional skills development. Following the opening of workshops in Tajikistan (2022) and Kazakhstan (2023), new centers were launched in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in late 2024. These facilities are designed to provide local students with hands-on technical training tailored to local labor market needs.

Complementing this effort, China established its first Book Center in Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in June 2024, donating over 1,000 books on philosophy, traditional medicine, and literature to promote cultural understanding.

People-to-people connectivity has also been strengthened through visa facilitation. A mutual visa-exemption policy between China and Uzbekistan came into effect on June 1, 2025, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan already offer 14-day and 10-day visa-free entry to Chinese tourists. As a result, Chinese tourism to Kazakhstan surged to over 650,000 arrivals in 2024, with a 66 percent increase in hotel stays year-on-year. The momentum is expected to grow further during Kazakhstan’s “Year of Chinese Tourism” in 2025.

Bilateral cultural events have further enriched mutual ties. The “Year of Chinese Culture in Turkmenistan” (2023) and the “Year of Turkmen Culture in China” (2024) showcased traditional art, music, and dance, enhancing mutual appreciation of national heritage. Local engagement continues at the grassroots level, with activities such as Chinese calligraphy lessons held in parks across cities like Tashkent.

China’s cultural presence is also expanding through education. Across Central Asia, 13 Confucius Institutes and 24 Confucius classrooms are now active, serving over 18,000 students, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These modern exchanges build upon a longer historical connection. In 2014, China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan jointly secured UNESCO recognition of the Silk Roads’ Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor as a World Heritage Site, underlining shared cultural roots.

Today, China and Central Asian countries maintain around 70 sister-city and sister-province relationships, reflecting the institutional depth of cooperation. As infrastructure improves — including highway renovation projects supported by China — local residents have expressed enthusiasm for future travel and cultural engagement.

With the second China-Central Asia Summit approaching, cultural diplomacy continues to serve as a foundation for regional partnership, fostering mutual trust, understanding, and long-term collaboration.

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