Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Astana has reinvigorated regional partnerships, with over 100 cooperation agreements signed at the second China-Central Asia Summit. Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the summit's role in advancing shared development goals and fostering cultural unity across the region.
New Framework for Collaboration
President Xi unveiled the China-Central Asia Spirit, a guiding principle promoting mutual respect, economic reciprocity, and joint crisis response. Central Asian leaders endorsed the framework, which strengthens political trust and aligns strategic priorities amid global economic uncertainties.
Economic Priorities Take Center Stage
The summit designated 2025-2026 as Years of High-Quality Development Cooperation, focusing on six key areas: cross-border trade, green energy, mining sustainability, agricultural modernization, infrastructure connectivity, and educational exchanges. A landmark Belt and Road action plan was signed, marking China's first comprehensive regional cooperation agreement with neighboring states.
Cultural Bridges Strengthened
Over 100 sister-city partnerships were established between China and Central Asian nations, fulfilling a 2021 initiative by President Xi. New cooperation centers for poverty reduction, desertification control, and academic exchanges aim to deepen people-to-people ties, with 3,000 training opportunities pledged for Central Asian professionals.
