The second China-Central Asia Summit commenced today (16 June) in Kazakhstan’s capital, marking a pivotal moment in deepening political and economic ties between China and the five Central Asian states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Running from 16 to 18 June, the summit aims to strengthen regional connectivity, expand trade, and reinforce multilateral cooperation amid a shifting global landscape.
Building on the inaugural 2023 summit in Xi’an, where leaders committed to a “community with a shared future,” the Astana meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of the Astana Declaration. This document will outline shared goals for regional stability, economic development, and collaborative infrastructure initiatives.
Multilateralism and economic integration
In a joint effort to uphold multilateralism and a rules-based international order, summit participants are set to highlight the importance of cooperation in the face of growing global protectionism. The expected adoption of the Astana Declaration reflects the shared desire to build on past cooperation and create new frameworks for investment, trade, and security.
Connectivity through infrastructure
Central to discussions is the enhancement of cross-border infrastructure. With the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway entering the construction phase, the project is positioned to serve as a key corridor linking East Asia with Europe. This new transport route aims to streamline logistics, reduce costs, and further integrate Central Asia into trans-Eurasian supply chains.
Other Chinese-backed infrastructure projects under discussion include the Astana urban light rail, developed using Chinese technology, and strategic pipelines such as the China-Kazakhstan crude oil and gas lines. These developments signal a continued deepening of energy and transit cooperation across the region.
Rising trade and investment
Trade between China and the Central Asian nations reached $94.8 billion in 2024, an increase of $5.4 billion from the previous year. China’s investment footprint in the region is also expanding, particularly in renewable energy and agro-industrial sectors. The summit serves as a venue to identify additional opportunities for economic collaboration and supply chain integration.
Security and sustainability challenges
Beyond economics, leaders are addressing non-traditional security threats including food and energy security, cybersecurity, and environmental concerns. The summit reinforces a shared commitment to safer digital environments, echoing principles from China’s 2020 Global Initiative on Data Security.
Cultural and tourism exchanges
The summit also seeks to expand people-to-people ties. Cultural cooperation and tourism development are high on the agenda, following a 78% surge in Chinese tourist arrivals to Kazakhstan in 2024. Plans to simplify visa processes and create new China-Central Asia tourism routes reflect efforts to deepen mutual understanding and unlock economic potential in the services sector.
Strategic implications
As a key hub between East and West, Central Asia’s role in the Belt and Road Initiative continues to grow. The Astana summit not only consolidates China’s position in the region but also institutionalizes a consultative framework for addressing shared challenges. Officials view this model as an increasingly important counterbalance to unilateralism and geopolitical fragmentation.
Outlook
The 2025 Astana summit signals renewed momentum in China-Central Asia relations. As the region navigates an era of geopolitical flux, the summit’s outcomes are likely to shape Eurasian cooperation for years to come—anchored in infrastructure, trade, security, and cultural dialogue.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals co...
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligenc...
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia, au...
Iran announced on Saturday that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal...
A technical fault in the helium system of NASA’s next-generation moon rocket was announced on Saturday, ruling out the planned March launch window f...
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
Iran announced on Saturday that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles in 'Grey’s Anatomy' and 'Euphoria', died on Thursday, at the age of 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family confirmed his death after what they described as a “courageous battle” with ALS.
An Austrian climber has been convicted of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died from hypothermia while climbing Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, in January 2025.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Iran announced on Saturday that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
At least 10 people were killed and 50 wounded in Israeli strikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Friday (20 February), two security sources told Reuters, after the Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah sites in the Baalbek area.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday (21 February) dismissed U.S. claims that 32,000 civilians were killed during protests in Iran. He said Tehran has already released official figures and called for evidence to support any higher estimates.
Uzbekistan's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a series of high-level meetings in the U.S. aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
Türkiye has signalled readiness to contribute to a proposed Gaza stabilisation force during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday (19 February), but according to former Turkish diplomat Mehmet Öğütçü, the decisive factor will be whether Israel and the United States agree on Ankara’s role.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment