China is ready to develop relations with Central Asia

On April 26, Alma Ata hosted the sixth meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and China, dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation and multilateral partnership ahead of the second Central Asia-China summit scheduled for this year. The talks, which were chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, highlighted China’s growing influence in the region, where it is already the main trading partner and investor for most Central Asian states. In this way, Beijing is actively promoting the concept of the “community of common destiny of China and Central Asia”, announced at the Xi’an summit in 2023.

The central topics of the meeting were strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties and transport connectivity, jointly countering challenges and threats, as well as issues of sustainable development and environmental security in the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced his country’s intention to strengthen openness to the outside world, develop cooperation with neighboring countries and expand opportunities for global cooperation.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, in turn, stressed the importance of strengthening the multilateral format of Central Asia–China, emphasizing the need to further expand cooperation in key areas to ensure stability in the region. “We are creating all conditions for our format to become the flagship among the CA+1 mechanisms, and the upcoming meeting of the leaders will open a new milestone of eternal friendship and prosperity,” the Kazakh Foreign Minister said. According to him, the trade turnover of the Central Asian countries with China in 2024 reached a record $ 95 billion.

According to the chief expert of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, sinologist Adil Kaukenov, the extensive agenda of the meeting went far beyond the regional issues of Central Asia, touching upon issues of global geopolitical instability. Although the details of the negotiations have not been published, it can be assumed that the topic of US tariffs and retaliatory measures has become one of the key topics during the discussions.

The expert also drew attention to the negotiations that took place in the format of the China–Kazakhstan Strategic Dialogue. “At the meeting between Wang Yi and Murat Nurtleu, an ambitious goal for trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China was announced – $ 66.4 billion. However, the question arises: whose data should I use, given the significant difference between the statistics of the two countries? The Chinese customs estimates the volume of bilateral trade in 2024 at $43.8 billion, while the Kazakh side estimates it at $30.05 billion. The discrepancy is explained by the difference in the calculation methods,” Kaukenov wrote on his Telegram channel.

An important outcome of the meeting, according to the expert, was the announcement of the imminent signing of an agreement on the opening of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Guangzhou, a long–awaited step given the popularity of this city among Kazakhstani entrepreneurs. In this regard, the question arises about the possibility of opening a Kazakh consulate in Urumqi.

Thus, at a meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Wang Yi stated China’s readiness to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with all Central Asian countries, especially in the field of digital commerce and artificial intelligence. Stressing China’s commitment to a multilateral approach and cooperation based on rules rather than the “laws of the jungle,” Wang Yi expressed China’s willingness to uphold these principles together with like-minded people.

China ranks first in Uzbekistan in terms of foreign direct investment and loans. Last year, it surpassed Russia in the number of companies with joint capital. Bakhtiyor Saidov expressed gratitude to China for supporting Uzbekistan’s development agenda and shared commitment to building a prosperous, stable and interconnected region.

At a meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirodjiddin Muhriddin, Wang Yi confirmed China’s support for Tajikistan’s active role in international affairs, including holding a conference on glacier conservation in Dushanbe. He stressed China’s intention to strengthen its strategic partnership with Tajikistan by deepening cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

At a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubayev, Wang Yi stressed the strong fraternal relations between Beijing and Bishkek, based on trust and support. China supports Kyrgyzstan’s chosen path of development and opposes external interference. Both sides intend to strengthen their strategic partnership. Kulubayev, noting the successful visit of President Sadyr Japarov to China in February 2025, confirmed Kyrgyzstan’s readiness to build a “community of common destiny.” The parties discussed key Belt and Road projects, including the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, and agreed to expand trade and economic cooperation, welcoming Chinese investments.

The talks between the foreign ministers indicate China’s desire to strengthen its economic influence in Central Asia before the summit of heads of state, which will be held in 2025 in Kazakhstan.