On September 7, 2026, in Astana, the international conference China Conference: Central Asia 2026 took place, a large-scale dialogue platform dedicated to the prospects for economic, investment, technological, and humanitarian cooperation between China and the countries of Central Asia.
The conference was organized by South China Morning Post (SCMP), one of Hong Kong’s leading English-language publications, together with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). Holding the flagship China Conference directly in Central Asia was the first event of such scale organized by a Hong Kong media outlet in Kazakhstan.
The main theme of the conference was “Capital, Resources and the Digital Silk Road”. Representatives of government bodies, financial institutions, international business, the investment and technology community, universities, and expert organizations from Kazakhstan, China, Hong Kong, other Central Asian countries, ASEAN states, the Gulf, and Europe gathered on one platform. According to the organizers, representatives of more than 100 companies from Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, various provinces of mainland China, and other countries took part in the conference.
Holding the conference in Astana reflects the growing importance of Central Asia in the system of Eurasian economic ties. Trade between China and the five Central Asian states has already exceeded USD 100 billion, and cooperation is gradually expanding beyond traditional trade and raw-material sectors to cover financial markets, digital technologies, transport infrastructure, critical minerals, green energy, education, healthcare, and human capital development.
The program of China Conference: Central Asia 2026 was built around several interconnected areas: the transformation of Eurasia’s macroeconomic and diplomatic architecture; investment in mining and critical minerals; the development of financial services and new capital-raising instruments; infrastructure and transport connectivity; the Digital Silk Road; and workforce development for the new economy. Special attention was paid to the role of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route – the Middle Corridor – and to financing railway, port, and logistics infrastructure connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe.
Among the key participants in the conference were the Managing Director of the Astana International Financial Centre Renat Bekturov, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kazakhstan Cheng Kefan, South China Morning Post publisher Tammy Tam, as well as representatives of government bodies, the financial sector, major companies, and scientific and educational organizations. Video messages to the participants were delivered by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee and former Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC CY Leung.
Addressing the conference participants, John Lee emphasized the growing importance of Central Asia for international business and its potential as one of the new centers of economic growth. He paid special attention to Hong Kong’s role as a link between mainland China and global markets – in attracting capital, professional services, investment, and the development of cross-border trade. He also noted the concrete results of his visit to Kazakhstan in June 2026, including agreements in the investment and financial spheres and the further development of transport links.
One of the important discussion topics was the formation of a new financial bridge between Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Participants considered opportunities to develop cooperation between Astana International Exchange (AIX) and Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), use dual-listing mechanisms, and attract international and Chinese capital to finance Kazakh and Central Asian projects.
A significant part of the program was devoted to the mining sector and critical minerals. Experts discussed how artificial intelligence, automation, new engineering solutions, and green investment can help modernize Central Asia’s mining industry while also increasing its investment attractiveness. They also considered the shift from raw-material exports to the creation of more complex production chains and greater value added within the region.
Another major area was the Digital Silk Road. The focus was on the development of digital infrastructure, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and financial technologies. These issues were viewed not only as an independent area of cooperation, but also as the technological foundation for the modernization of industry, logistics, finance, and public administration in Central Asia.
Human capital as the foundation of a new stage in Central Asia’s development
A special place in the program was given to a discussion on human capital and the question of whether young Central Asia can build a talent pool that matches its economic and technological ambitions.
Director of the China Studies Center Gulnar Shaimergenova took part in this session. Joining her in the discussion were Nazarbayev University President Professor Waqar Ahmad, KIMEP University President Dr. Chan Young Bang, and UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia. The session was moderated by South China Morning Post representative Jeffie Lam.
The participants examined one of the region’s most important long-term challenges: rapid economic and technological change requires not only investment and infrastructure, but also specialists capable of working in a new production, digital, and international environment.
Central Asia has an important demographic advantage: the region’s average age is under 27. However, a young demographic structure alone does not guarantee successful development. The key task is to create an education system, vocational training, and labor market that will allow young people to acquire competencies matching the real needs of the economy and, at the same time, find opportunities for professional fulfillment within the region.
During the discussion, it was noted that at the new stage of Central Asia’s development, the concept of human capital should be viewed much more broadly than traditional higher education. It is about combining academic knowledge with practical competencies, digital skills, an understanding of modern technologies, international business, and the specifics of working in different markets.
For cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, this issue is of particular importance. As trade, investment, industrial cooperation, transport projects, and digital interaction expand, the demand grows for specialists who understand both the economic environment of Kazakhstan and China, speak languages, can work with different business and institutional cultures, and possess sector-specific knowledge.
In this regard, the Director of the China Studies Center drew attention to the need to view human capital as an independent strategic area of China-Central Asia cooperation. Infrastructure and investment projects can deliver a long-term effect for the region only when local professional competencies are developed alongside them, qualified jobs are created, and opportunities emerge for young people to take direct part in implementing new projects.
Joint educational programs, academic exchanges, professional internships, research projects, cooperation between universities and companies, as well as closer collaboration among universities, think tanks, and business, are becoming especially promising areas. This approach makes it possible to move from training personnel “for the market” to preparing specialists directly in cooperation with the industries in which they will later work.
The issue of talent retention was also discussed separately. Nazarbayev University President Waqar Ahmad noted that creating a full-fledged educational center requires more than strong universities: a broader ecosystem is needed, including a modern labor market, a research environment, an innovation sector, and real professional prospects for graduates.
Participants also emphasized the prospects for more active cooperation between Kazakhstan’s universities and educational institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong. On the eve of the conference, South China Morning Post and Nazarbayev University signed a Memorandum of Understanding providing for the development of academic dialogue and knowledge exchange, the expansion of international opportunities for students and faculty, and the promotion of Central Asian research to a wider global audience.
From transport connectivity to comprehensive development
One of the general conclusions of China Conference: Central Asia 2026 was that the nature of China-Central Asia interaction is gradually changing. If in previous stages attention was largely focused on trade, energy, and the construction of physical infrastructure, today the agenda increasingly includes capital markets, the digital economy, technological modernization, education, research, and human capital.
For Kazakhstan, this opens the opportunity to strengthen its role not only as a key transit hub between China and Europe, but also as a regional platform for investment, finance, technology, education, and expert interaction.
In this context, the transition from simple physical connectivity to the formation of a more complex system of cooperation becomes especially important, in which transport routes are complemented by production chains, digital infrastructure, financial mechanisms, research and educational ties, and the development of local competencies.
China Conference: Central Asia 2026 demonstrated strong international interest in Central Asia and at the same time showed that the further development of China-Central Asia cooperation will increasingly depend not only on trade and investment volumes, but also on the ability of the region’s countries to turn new economic opportunities into sustainable domestic development, technological competencies, and quality jobs.
For the China Studies Center, participation in the conference became a continuation of work to develop professional dialogue between Kazakhstan and China, strengthen expert and academic ties, and more deeply study the changes taking place today in the system of China-Central Asia interaction.
China Studies Center
