The second Central Asia-China Summit, held on June 17, 2025 in Astana with the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the People’s Republic of China, was an important event confirming the strategic focus and sustainability of the new format of interaction “C+C5”. Established in 2023 in Xi’an, this mechanism has established itself in two years as a platform not only for political dialogue, but also for systemic multi-faceted cooperation. The Astana Summit confirmed the desire of the region’s countries and China to give their cooperation additional institutional depth and strategic dimension in the face of growing global challenges.
During the summit, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined key priorities for the further development of the regional partnership. He recalled that the meeting in Xian marked the launch of a new mechanism for regional cooperation, and the meeting in Astana marks the beginning of its deepening. The President also emphasized the importance of the humanitarian aspect of cooperation. He proposed declaring 2026 as the Year of Education and Research, highlighting the significance of investing in the region’s intellectual and cultural potential. The President also noted the achievements in the field of tourism, academic exchanges, and sister cities between regions and cities, which strengthen ties between nations.
A significant amount of attention was paid to security issues. Kazakhstan proposed to intensify joint efforts to counter transnational threats such as terrorism, extremism, cybercrime, and human and arms trafficking. Tokayev emphasized the importance of direct and continuous communication between relevant agencies to enhance the effectiveness of combating these challenges. Another conceptual element of the summit was the idea of creating a community of shared destiny among border countries and signing a Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation. President Tokayev highlighted that China has become an eternal partner and true friend for Kazakhstan.
In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the results of two years of cooperation within the framework of the format. He reported that China’s trade with Central Asian countries has increased by 35%, indicating the positive dynamics of the partnership. China has not only increased its imports of agricultural products and raw materials from the region, but is also actively exporting innovative goods, such as electric vehicles and high-tech equipment, to Central Asian countries. The Chinese President also expressed his readiness to further strengthen strategic trust and enhance coordination between national development strategies.
One of the central themes of Xi Jinping’s speech was the development of infrastructure and technology. He called for the accelerated construction of transport corridors, the modernization of border infrastructure, and increased cooperation in the areas of digital transformation, green economy, innovation, and applied science. Security also played a crucial role, with China reaffirming its support for the joint fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and advocating for the protection of a just international order based on the UN Charter. A special emphasis was placed on humanitarian ties, including support for thematic years, youth and expert exchanges, as well as cooperation between regions and think tanks.
As a result of the summit, a number of important documents were signed, including the Astana Declaration of the Second Summit, the Treaty on Eternal Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, and 24 intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements between Kazakhstan and China. These documents cover a wide range of areas, from economics and transportation to scientific and technical exchange and humanitarian cooperation.
From an economic perspective, China retains its status as a leading trade and investment partner for the countries of the region. In 2024, China’s total trade with Central Asian states exceeded $94.8 billion, and the total amount of investments and credit resources amounted to around $24 billion. Large-scale infrastructure initiatives are being implemented, including the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway route, the development of logistics hubs, and the launch of industrial enterprises and industrial parks. Cooperation goes beyond the traditional raw materials format, covering the areas of the digital economy, green energy, mechanical engineering, telecommunications, and space research. Training is being conducted, and joint research centers and laboratories are being established, which indicates the formation of a scientific and technological dimension of the partnership.
In the field of security, a comprehensive and institutionalized approach is being developed to enhance the region’s resilience in the face of complex threats. Central Asian countries and China are establishing stable coordination channels between relevant agencies, including intelligence services, law enforcement agencies, and cyber units, enabling them to exchange information promptly, synchronize their actions, and develop unified response algorithms. Mechanisms are being developed to respond to cross-border risks, ranging from terrorist threats to technological disasters, with a particular focus on digital and hybrid challenges. At the same time, the legal and regulatory framework is being strengthened to ensure legal compatibility and a basis for joint operations. This is becoming increasingly important in the face of growing geopolitical turbulence, the erosion of global checks and balances, and the region’s increasing vulnerability to transnational challenges such as extremism, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and cyber threats.
The humanitarian dimension of cooperation is coming to the fore, becoming an integral part of the strategic partnership between China and the Central Asian countries. Support for cultural, educational, and tourism initiatives is complemented by an extensive system of practical mechanisms, including the establishment of thematic years, the creation of cultural centers, the expansion of grant programs, the launch of joint academic platforms, and the strengthening of sister city and regional ties. Direct contacts between universities, research institutions, youth organizations, and the media are being intensified, contributing to the development of a multi-layered architecture of humanitarian cooperation. Such multi-level cooperation not only strengthens mutual trust, but also forms a sustainable fabric of horizontal connections, providing a solid foundation for long-term integration and sustainable dialogue at the societal level, going far beyond traditional diplomacy.
Of particular importance is the process of institutionalizing the Central Asia-China format, which is moving from sporadic diplomatic contacts to the formation of a sustainable, structured architecture of cooperation. Regular high-level meetings are reinforcing the political will of the parties to deepen the dialogue, and the establishment of a permanent secretariat is providing the format with organizational continuity and operational efficiency. Comprehensive roadmaps are being developed for priority areas of cooperation through 2030, including the economy, security, technology, and humanitarian ties, indicating a shift towards strategic programming of cooperation. This approach not only ensures predictability and long-term stability, but also transforms the Central Asia-China format into a fully-fledged regional platform with a high degree of institutional coherence, capable of promptly responding to challenges and shaping a sustainable development agenda in a rapidly changing international environment.
The Central Asia-China format is becoming a powerful tool for regional consolidation, allowing the Central Asian states to pursue a coordinated foreign policy and act as a unified political and economic bloc on the international stage. This not only strengthens their collective negotiating positions in their dialogue with China, but also significantly reduces the risks of unilateral dependence, ensuring a more balanced distribution of interests. The joint coordination of strategic initiatives within the region opens up additional opportunities for developing a multi-vector, flexible, and pragmatic foreign policy, including in the context of the changing global architecture. For China, the C+C5 format serves as an effective channel for strengthening its political and economic presence in Eurasia, while also shaping a new model of regional cooperation based on principles of political equality, mutual respect, pragmatic benefits, and cultural compatibility. This partnership, devoid of elements of pressure or dominance, reflects the parties’ commitment to building a sustainable and complementary system of regional cooperation for the next generation.
Thus, the second Central Asia-China Summit was a convincing confirmation that the partnership between the countries of the region and the People’s Republic of China is not just strategic, but also transformative. The interaction is reaching the level of systemic, institutionalized cooperation that encompasses key areas, from the economy and infrastructure to security, science, and humanitarian exchanges. The Astana Summit clearly demonstrated the strong political will of all participants to engage in joint modernization, technological development, integration into global value chains, and building a collective architecture for regional stability. At the same time, the special emphasis on strengthening ties between peoples demonstrates the parties’ desire to build genuine strategic trust and long-term alignment of interests. In this context, the Central Asia-China format opens up qualitatively new horizons for regional cooperation, becoming one of the key pillars of sustainable development and peaceful coexistence in Eurasia.
China Studies Center
