The second China–Central Asia Summit was held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, bringing together the leaders of all Central Asian countries and the President of China. This event marked an important milestone in strengthening political dialogue and expanding multilateral cooperation.
Chaired by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the summit was attended by: presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan), Xi Jinping (China), Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan), Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan), Serdar Berdimuhamedov (Turkmenistan)
The summit focused on the following objectives:
- Strengthening long-term strategic partnership
- Developing trade, economic, infrastructure, and cultural cooperation
- Jointly addressing global challenges in security and sustainable development
Based on the heads of state’s speeches and broad discussions, the following outcomes were achieved:
- Treaty on Eternal Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation was signed
- Astana Declaration was adopted
A package of intergovernmental agreements was approved
- The parties also endorsed proposals including:
- Development of a Long-Term Partnership Concept
- Establishment of an Interregional Trade and Investment Council
- Launch of a New Economic Partnership Program
Special attention was given to the economic dimension:
- Trade turnover between China and Central Asia is expected to exceed $100 billion in 2025
Key initiatives are being promoted:
- Digital Belt and Road: creation of a multilateral trade platform
- Industrial and Infrastructure Belt: development of clusters and logistics hubs
- Digital Corridor: fiber-optic communication line between the countries
- Regional Center for Standardization in Tashkent
Environmental issues were also a key topic:
- President Mirziyoyev called for speeding up adoption of a Green Development Program
- A proposal was made to create an Environmental Alliance
- Goal: combat desertification and ensure sustainable management of natural resources
Security and regional stability were thoroughly discussed:
- Threats of terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime were acknowledged
- Proposal to strengthen mechanisms for information exchange
- Emphasis on the importance of Afghanistan’s recovery:
- Proposal to establish a High-Level Group for coordinating aid
Decisions in culture and education were also made:
- Launch of the “Silk Road Cultural Heritage” Digital Portal was announced
- Goal: support researchers, students, tourism, and creative industries
- The initiative aims to deepen humanitarian ties and mutual understanding among peoples
The leaders unanimously supported continued dialogue and sustainable cooperation:
- President Mirziyoyev emphasized that since the first summit in Xi’an (2023):
- A secretariat has been established
- Ministerial and expert-level mechanisms are functioning
- A legal and regulatory framework is being developed
The Astana summit reaffirmed the participants’ shared commitment not only to strengthen political contacts but to build a solid framework for regional cooperation that promotes growth, stability, and prosperity in Central Asia.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 18, 2025