President Xi Jinping's Visit to Kazakhstan Strengthens China-Central Asia Cooperation

President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing after taking part in the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he engaged in extensive discussions that aimed to bolster cooperation between China and Central Asia. During his brief visit, which lasted less than 48 hours, Xi attended over ten bilateral and multilateral meetings with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, fostering friendships and creating a roadmap for future development.

The leaders at the summit collectively reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing friendly ties and economic cooperation through the Astana Declaration. They acknowledged the need for ongoing mutual trust as they navigate a world marked by volatility and uncertainty, with Xi asserting China's openness to collaboration for mutual development and high-quality partnerships with Central Asian nations.

Significantly, the summit resulted in the signing of 12 cooperation agreements, which cover various sectors including Belt and Road initiatives, trade facilitation, green minerals, and customs. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed optimism that the China-Central Asia collaboration would cultivate a strategic partnership model that fosters shared prosperity, security, and inclusive growth in the region.

This visit to Kazakhstan represents Xi's third consecutive journey to neighboring countries following a major conference held in April focused on relations with neighbors. In a press conference, Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the importance of the newly defined China-Central Asia Spirit characterized by mutual respect and collaboration, asserting that China prioritizes shared modernization and development with its partners.

The most notable outcome of the summit was the establishment of a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, marking a historic milestone for the six participating countries. This agreement is viewed as a foundational step towards the enduring development of relations in the region, reinforcing the importance of multilateral cooperation driven by mutual respect and benefit.

Post-summit, trade between China and Central Asian nations has reportedly risen dramatically, evidencing a robust growth trajectory following the first summit in 2023. The latest joint declaration identifies six key areas for cooperation, including trade facilitation and agricultural modernization, underscoring the political will of leaders to foster sustainable development and deepen partnerships among the involved nations.