China and Central Asia have transformed their economic partnership into one of Asia's most dynamic growth stories, with trade volumes surging 116% over the past decade. New customs data reveals bilateral trade reached 674.15 billion yuan ($94 billion) in 2024, outpacing China's overall trade growth by 2.3 percentage points annually since 2013.
Infrastructure Drives Agricultural Boom
Improved land corridors have revolutionized commerce, with road transport now facilitating 51.8% of trade – up from just 19.9% in 2020. This connectivity fuels a 26.9% spike in Central Asian agricultural imports to China during January-May 2025, featuring Kazakh linseed (+202%), Uzbek raisins (+153.7%), and Kyrgyz honey (10.9x growth).
Summit to Cement Regional Vision
As leaders prepare for the June 16-18 China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, analysts highlight the partnership's strategic depth. 'This isn't just about trade numbers,' says Central Asian affairs expert Dr. Aizada Nurmatova. 'It's creating an integrated development model combining Chinese technology with Central Asia's resource potential.'
The cooperation mechanism, jointly established in 2022, continues gaining momentum through infrastructure projects and industrial park developments along key Belt and Road routes.
