China, Central Asian countries sign landmark treaty, vow to boost cooperation

For the first time, the China-Central Asia Summit was held in a Central Asian country—Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. Leaders from China and five Central Asian countries signed a treaty promising permanent friendship and cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping called it a major milestone and urged deeper partnerships based on mutual respect and shared development.

The summit highlighted growing cooperation under the China-Central Asia mechanism, which began in 2020 and became a formal summit in 2023. Xi emphasized the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as key to the region’s development, with trade between China and Central Asia hitting a record $94.8 billion in 2024.

China also announced new cooperation centers focused on poverty reduction, education, desert control, and smoother trade. Experts say this partnership model stands out globally as a peaceful and equal way to build economic and diplomatic ties.

Credit : CGTN