“China–Central Asia” Mechanism Boosts Cooperation in Trade, Investment, Green Energy, and Digital Economy

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Trade and economic cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries reached a historic milestone. Sun Weidong, Secretary-General of the “China–Central Asia” mechanism, told China Daily and China News Service that in 2025 the total trade volume between China and the five countries of the region exceeded US$100 billion for the first time, reaching US$106.3 billion, a 12% increase over 2024.

Sun Weidong noted that this result is historically significant, particularly against the backdrop of global geopolitical tensions and protectionist measures that undermine the international trade and economic order. According to him, China and the Central Asian countries continue to support free trade, deepen the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and create a stable structure for economic interaction. Since 2021, when trade totaled US$49.56 billion, it has nearly doubled, and Central Asia’s share of China’s foreign trade has grown from 0.8% to 1.5%.

China consistently ranks as the top trading partner for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and in 2025 became the largest trading partner of Tajikistan for the first time. The trade structure is evolving: China’s exports to Central Asia in 2025 reached US$71.2 billion, up 11%, with strong growth in machinery and high-tech products, including industrial equipment, motorcycles, mobile phones, and lithium-ion batteries. Imports from the region amounted to US$35.1 billion, a 14% increase, primarily consisting of energy resources and minerals, while the range of chemical products, metal products, and non-raw agricultural goods is expanding.

Sun Weidong emphasized that the trade dynamics are largely driven by the complementary nature of the economies and resource potential of the parties. Chinese investments play a key role, with a total volume exceeding US$50 billion and more than 40,000 Chinese enterprises engaged in export-import operations in the region. Central Asian countries note an increase in registered Chinese companies and an expansion of investments from energy and infrastructure into industrial production, transportation, green energy, and the digital economy.

Political leadership and government support from both China and the Central Asian countries are of great importance. Within the mechanism, ministerial platforms operate, including meetings of ministers of economy and trade, industry and investment forums, customs authority meetings, and entrepreneur committees. In Nanjing, a Platform Center for Unimpeded Trade officially opened, integrating trade functions, industrial cooperation, and production-education integration.

In 2025, the second “China–Central Asia” summit was held, during which heads of state identified six priority areas of cooperation, including unimpeded trade, industry and investment, connectivity, green resources, and digital transformation. The years 2025–2026 were declared “Years of High-Quality Cooperation Development,” supported by the Action Plan for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The mechanism’s Secretariat, operating in full format for about nine months, actively coordinates the work of foreign ministries and relevant agencies, ensures the implementation of agreements from the second summit, and prepares groundwork for the third. During this period, the Secretariat participated in meetings of various ministerial platforms, regional cooperation forums, and international China–Europe forums, promoting the ideas and achievements of the mechanism.

Special attention is given to humanitarian and educational exchanges. Last year, the Secretariat facilitated the launch of the China–Central Asia humanitarian-tourism train, vocational education seminars, production-education integration conferences, and human rights forums. Events involving youth and students from the region were held, along with meetings with delegations from Central Asian countries and cultural activities fostering friendship and mutual enrichment.

Sun Weidong emphasized that the Secretariat will continue to act as a “catalyst” for the mechanism, supporting the implementation of agreements, promoting deeper cooperation across all sectors, expanding investment and trade opportunities, and ensuring that the results of cooperation bring tangible benefits to the peoples of China and Central Asia.