Leaders from China and five Central Asian nations convene in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the Second China–Central Asia Summit (June 16–18, 2025).
The summit brought together Chinese President Xi Jinping and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to strengthen China–Central Asia relations through a comprehensive agenda of political agreements, economic partnerships, security cooperation, and cultural exchanges. This high-level meeting – the second of its kind following the 2023 Xi’an summit in China – concluded with landmark commitments, including a new treaty of friendship, ambitious trade and infrastructure deals, pledges of security collaboration, and initiatives to deepen people-to-people ties.
The Astana summit marked a significant step in regional cooperation. At its conclusion on June 17, the six nations signed the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, a “permanent friendship pact” cementing their long-term strategic partnership. Leaders also adopted the Astana Declaration, outlining their shared vision for regional development and unity. Together, these political agreements signify an elevated level of trust and commitment – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hailed the China–Central Asia partnership as having reached an “eternal strategic” level, while President Xi described the pact as a milestone that will “benefit generations to come”. The summit further institutionalized the China–Central Asia mechanism by establishing a permanent secretariat in China and agreeing to hold biennial heads-of-state meetings, ensuring that this regional cooperation framework endures and evolves.
Political Agreements and Strategic Partnerships
Diplomatic ties were front and center, with the signing of historic agreements that solidify political cooperation. The newly signed Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation commits all parties to perpetual good-neighborly relations, non-interference, and mutual support for each country’s sovereignty and development. This treaty – described as an “innovative endeavor in China’s neighborhood diplomacy” by President Xi – mirrors similar pacts China has with Russia and Pakistan, underscoring its importance. In addition, the leaders jointly issued the Astana Declaration, affirming their “China–Central Asia community with a shared future” vision and the guiding principles of the emerging “China–Central Asia Spirit” of cooperation. This spirit, characterized by “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and the pursuit of common modernization”, was cited as the foundation for the countries’ close diplomatic relationship.
The summit’s political outcomes also included bolstering multilateral coordination. All six nations pledged to continue working together in international forums – such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) – and to speak with a united voice on regional issues. By institutionalizing the summit mechanism (with regular meetings and a secretariat) and signing 12 cooperation documents ranging from city partnerships to development programs, China and Central Asian states signaled that their partnership is now both formalized and action-oriented. According to the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the treaty and declaration adopted in Astana represent a “historic event” and a common commitment to regional stability, providing a framework for long-term partnership through specific projects and mechanisms. Such political agreements lay a strong foundation of strategic trust that enables deeper collaboration in other domains.
Economic Cooperation and Investment Partnerships
Economic cooperation was a cornerstone of the 2025 summit, as China and Central Asian countries unveiled new trade and investment initiatives to drive regional development. Since the first summit in 2023, trade between China and the five Central Asian republics has surged by over 30%, reaching a record nearly $100 billion in 2024. President Tokayev noted that China is now Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, exemplified by bilateral trade hitting an all-time high of $44 billion last year. Across Central Asia, more than 10,000 joint projects are underway, highlighting the depth of economic ties and China’s role as a major investor in the region. At the Astana summit, this momentum continued with a flurry of new agreements: during a parallel China–Central Asia business forum, the parties signed 58 deals worth nearly $25 billion across green technology, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Infrastructure connectivity featured prominently. A flagship project is the long-planned China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, which is set to begin construction in 2025 to link Western China with Central Asia by rail. With an estimated cost of $8 billion and a target completion by 2030, this cross-border railway will boost regional connectivity as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), uniting markets and shortening routes between Asia and Europe. Several major energy and industrial projects were also announced or advanced. For example, Kazakhstan and China agreed to build a large pumped-storage power plant to support renewable energy and a coal gasification facility that will produce 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually – projects expected to create jobs and enhance energy security. New investments in agriculture, such as high-tech grain processing plants in Kazakhstan, and a partnership on green hydrogen production, further illustrate the summit’s focus on sustainable development and food security.
China backed these initiatives with financial commitments and aid. President Xi pledged 1.5 billion yuan (about US$208 million) in grants to support livelihood and development projects across Central Asia. He also announced that China will offer 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian professionals over the next two years to help build local capacity in various fields. These measures, alongside agreements giving Central Asian states access to China’s resources – for instance, a Kazakh partnership for access to China’s Green Technology Bank to fund climate-friendly projects – underscore Beijing’s role as an economic partner and benefactor in the region. Central Asian leaders welcomed the investments and technology transfers; Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov highlighted the railway and transit infrastructure as transformative for the region’s integration, and others stressed opportunities to expand energy, finance, and e-commerce links with China. By boosting trade, building connectivity, and injecting development funds, the summit’s economic outcomes aim to create shared prosperity and tighten the economic partnership between China and Central Asia.
Security Partnerships and Regional Stability
Security cooperation was high on the agenda in Astana, reflecting mutual interests in maintaining stability across Central Asia. President Xi Jinping affirmed China’s support for the Central Asian countries’ security and law enforcement modernization efforts, pledging assistance in areas such as counterterrorism, combating transnational organized crime, and bolstering cybersecurity defenses. All six leaders emphasized their joint commitment to counter the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, building on longstanding coordination through frameworks like the SCO. They agreed on launching additional “Safe City” initiatives (integrated security and surveillance systems in urban areas) and holding joint security exercises to improve regional emergency response and counterterror capabilities. The summit communiqués also addressed the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, with a shared resolve to promote peace, reconstruction, and prevent spillover of instability from that country.
Central Asian presidents underscored that enhanced security partnerships with China contribute to peace and stability for the whole region. Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the cooperation between Central Asia and China has a “constructive impact on the entire geopolitical landscape in Asia,” helping create conditions for long-term peace, stability, and security. He advocated for developing a global security strategy under the UN auspices, reflecting the region’s desire for a broader multilateral approach to security challenges. In practical terms, China’s support is already evident: for example, Kazakhstan has begun receiving Chinese help for its police and border forces’ modernization, and similar programs are expected across the other republics. Moreover, China signaled it “supports the growing role of Central Asia in international affairs” and stands ready to oppose hegemonic interference in the region. By deepening defense and security ties – without forming a formal military alliance – the summit reinforced a united front for regional stability. These security partnerships are seen as mutually beneficial: they enhance Central Asian nations’ capacity to handle threats, and they protect China’s own western borders and investment projects, thereby ensuring a stable environment for all parties’ development.
Cultural and Educational Exchanges
Beyond high-level politics and economics, the summit placed strong emphasis on cultural and educational exchanges to strengthen people-to-people connections. Recognizing the centuries-old ties and common Silk Road heritage between China and Central Asia, the leaders endorsed a range of initiatives to foster mutual understanding. They agreed to increase the number of sister-city relationships, linking cities in China with those in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to promote local-level cooperation and cultural exchange. Indeed, several new sister-city agreements were signed during the summit, alongside the launch of joint cooperation centers focused on poverty reduction, education, desertification control, and trade facilitation. These institutions are meant to serve as platforms for sharing expertise and best practices among the six countries.
Educational collaboration is expanding through the establishment of Chinese cultural centers and vocational programs across Central Asia. China has set up Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshops (technical skill training centers), and even branch campuses of Chinese universities in multiple Central Asian states. Such programs provide language instruction, technical education, and opportunities for Central Asian students and professionals to study in China, building a foundation for long-term cultural affinity and workforce development. The summit also highlighted tourism and cultural heritage as key areas of cooperation. Kazakhstan, for example, has designated 2025 as the “Year of Kazakhstan–China Tourism,” aiming to boost two-way travel and cultural tourism. There are plans for Silk Road-themed tourist routes and cultural festivals, capitalizing on the region’s rich historical links – an idea deemed “highly promising” by the Kyrgyz President to attract visitors and deepen intercultural ties.
Importantly, easier travel between China and Central Asia is becoming a reality. China has reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements now with countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which led to over 1.2 million trips between China and Kazakhstan in 2024 alone. Such policies greatly facilitate tourism, business visits, and student exchanges. The leaders agreed to continue holding art exhibitions, film screenings, and youth forums to broaden cultural engagement under the banner of a shared Silk Road heritage. By enhancing these cultural and educational exchanges, the summit’s participants intend to strengthen public goodwill and mutual understanding, ensuring that the burgeoning China–Central Asia partnership rests on strong grassroots support and not just governmental agreements.
Conclusion: Toward a Shared Future in China–Central Asia Relations
The 2025 China–Central Asia Summit in Astana has ushered in a new phase of regional cooperation, with leaders on both sides charting an ambitious course for the future. The political, economic, security, and cultural initiatives launched at the summit collectively reinforce a vision of a closely interconnected region. Through the “Astana Declaration” and the unprecedented friendship treaty, China and its Central Asian neighbors have formalized a long-term strategic partnership built on mutual respect and shared development goals. The outcomes – from massive trade deals and infrastructure projects to joint security efforts and cultural programs – demonstrate a holistic approach to partnership that addresses both hard infrastructure and the softer ties of people and culture. Officials and analysts note that this comprehensive cooperation not only benefits the six nations involved, but also contributes to stability and prosperity across Eurasia.
All parties have expressed optimism that the summit’s (achievements) will translate into tangible improvements: more robust economic growth, safer and more secure societies, and greater mutual understanding among their peoples. In the words of President Mirziyoyev, the combination of Central Asia’s growing potential with China’s resources and expertise can create a “common space of great opportunities” for development and innovation. Moving forward, the China–Central Asia summit mechanism – now set as a regular biennial event – will continue to guide this partnership. With the “China–Central Asia Spirit” of solidarity and win-win cooperation as their compass, the six countries are working together toward a community with a shared future, where regional cooperation is the driving force for peace and prosperity.
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