The 6th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asian countries and China was held in Almaty, focusing on deepening political dialogue, expanding economic ties, and enhancing regional security, Eurasiatoday.ru reports.
The talks, chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, took place in advance of the second “Central Asia–China” summit, scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan later this year.
The forum underscored China’s growing influence in the region, where Beijing has already established itself as the leading trading partner and investor for most Central Asian states.
Key Priorities of the Meeting Included:
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Strengthening high-level political dialogue
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Expanding trade and economic cooperation
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Enhancing transport connectivity, including the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan corridor
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Addressing new challenges such as climate change and cyber threats
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Promoting sustainable development and environmental protection
Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s commitment to openness, equal cooperation, and the vision of a “community of shared future” — a concept first presented at the Xi’an summit in 2023.
Economic Integration: Ambitions and Figures
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu highlighted that trade between Central Asia and China reached a record $95 billion in 2024. He emphasized Kazakhstan’s ambition to turn the “CA+China” format into a flagship platform for regional cooperation.
During the Kazakhstan–China Strategic Dialogue, Wang Yi and Nurtleu set a new goal of increasing bilateral trade to $66.4 billion.
However, discrepancies remain: Chinese data report $43.8 billion in trade volume, while Kazakh figures cite $30.05 billion. Experts attribute the gap to differing statistical methodologies.
Diplomatic Expansion: New Consulates
A key outcome of the meeting was the announcement of a new Kazakh Consulate General in Guangzhou, a major business hub in China. Plans are also being considered for a consulate in Urumqi, aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s presence in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Innovation in Focus: Digital Trade and AI
In discussions with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Wang Yi proposed expanding pragmatic cooperation in areas such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, and high technology.
Uzbekistan currently leads Central Asia in attracting Chinese investment, and has overtaken Russia in the number of joint ventures with China.
Strategic Partnership with Tajikistan
With Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Wang Yi discussed development cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. China expressed support for Tajikistan’s efforts to preserve glaciers and host an international conference on the issue in Dushanbe.
China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway: A Megaproject in Progress
In his meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s commitment to strategic partnership, particularly through the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway — a vital component of the emerging Eurasian transport corridor.
Kulubaev highlighted the significance of President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to China in February 2025 and reiterated Kyrgyzstan’s readiness to build a “community of shared future” with China.
Geopolitical Context: Beyond the Region
According to Adil Kaukenov, an expert at the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, the discussions extended beyond regional matters and touched on global instability — including the U.S.–China trade war.
While specific details of the negotiations were not disclosed, analysts believe coordination between Central Asia and China in response to growing Western pressure was a likely topic.
The sixth meeting served as a key preparatory step ahead of the second Central Asia–China leaders’ summit in 2025. China appears determined to deepen its economic, political, and infrastructure ties with Central Asia against the backdrop of shifting global dynamics.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
April 29, 2025