中文
By Maya Majueran
Lead: The second China-Central Asia Summit, which was convened in Astana on June 17, set the stage for a new era of cooperation between the two sides.
The second China-Central Asia Summit was held on June 17 in Astana, Kazakhstan. At the summit, participating countries signed a treaty on eternal good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation, as well as the Astana Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to deepening regional ties and advancing a long-term strategic partnership.
Building on the inaugural summit held in China's Xi'an in 2023, this year's meeting focused on advancing the vision of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, a framework based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and win-win cooperation.
The summit highlighted enhanced collaboration in key areas including political dialogue, economic development, infrastructure investment, regional security and cultural exchange. It aimed to consolidate achievements from previous meetings and set out a roadmap for future cooperation. The goal remains the promotion of mutually beneficial ties to support regional stability and shared prosperity.
In his keynote speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on China and Central Asian nations to deepen high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to continue building a community with a shared future, guided by the principles of the China-Central Asia Spirit.
President Xi announced China's decision to establish four new cooperative platforms focused respectively on poverty reduction, education exchange, desertification control, and smooth trade facilitation. These initiatives signal a shift toward more multidimensional, sustainable and inclusive regional development.
The partnership between China and Central Asia has evolved significantly since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today, the five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — maintain robust political, economic and strategic ties with China.
This relationship is anchored in more than 2,000 years of historical exchange and reinforced by over three decades of diplomatic engagement characterized by mutual trust and solidarity. Today, it is propelled by openness and a shared commitment to high-quality, forward-looking cooperation.
China has prioritized regional stability and sovereign equality, emphasizing non-interference and long-term partnership. Through bilateral agreements and multilateral institutions such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Beijing has positioned itself as a key partner in security, particularly in counterterrorism, border management and regional stability.
China and Central Asian countries are committed to a strategic partnership based on mutual benefit and inclusive development. Both sides regard each other as priority partners in regional and global affairs, sharing the pursuit of political stability, economic modernization and sustainable growth.
By aligning their development goals and working together in areas such as trade, energy, education and digital connectivity, the two sides aim to create opportunities for each other and contribute to broader Eurasian integration.
Central Asia plays a pivotal role in the BRI. As a land bridge between East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, it holds significant geostrategic and logistical importance. China has consistently regarded Central Asia as a top priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, underscoring its commitment to deepening political, economic and people-to-people ties.
In a landmark decision, the six countries declared 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. The designation reflects a shared ambition to elevate bilateral and multilateral engagement through sustainable and innovation-driven collaboration, focusing on trade, infrastructure, green energy, agriculture, digital connectivity and cultural exchange.
Efforts are underway to implement projects that facilitate smooth trade, boost industrial investment, improve logistics and modernize agriculture. There is also a new focus on fostering new quality productive forces to align with future development trends.
Landmark infrastructure projects such as the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline and the under-construction China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway aim to ensure the secure and efficient transport of resources and goods while reducing reliance on maritime chokepoints and politically sensitive routes.
At the same time, digital connectivity is becoming a key item on the cooperation agenda. Initiatives such as smart border crossings, e-commerce corridors and logistics digitalization are designed to streamline trade processes and enhance regional economic efficiency.
The second China-Central Asia Summit marked another milestone in China's efforts to strengthen its ties with other parts of Eurasia. By institutionalizing partnerships through treaties, development platforms and multilateral frameworks, China is positioning itself as a long-term stakeholder in Central Asia's political and economic future.
This approach reflects a blend of pragmatic diplomacy and strategic vision. In a time of shifting global power dynamics and growing geopolitical uncertainty, China's deepening engagement offers a model of cooperation based on mutual benefit, non-interference and shared development.
As the geopolitical center of gravity shifts and traditional alliances are reassessed, Central Asia is emerging as a vital node for transcontinental trade, energy and diplomacy. No longer a peripheral corridor, the region is being redefined as a critical bridge between East and West.
Through the BRI and related platforms, China is investing not only in infrastructure but also in a new regional order — one that positions Central Asia as an active participant in global development. In the months and years ahead, this partnership will deliver increasingly greater prosperity for all as China and its Central Asian partners go forward on the path of good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation.
Maya Majueran is the director of BRISL, an independent, Sri Lankan-led organization specializing in Belt and Road Initiative advice and support.
