Latest news with #KazakhPresident
Al Jazeera
16 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
China's Xi Jinping meets Central Asian leaders: Why their summit matters
Chinese President Xi Jinping reached Kazakhstan on Monday to attend the second China–Central Asia Summit, a high-stakes diplomatic gathering aimed at deepening Beijing's economic and strategic ties with the region. The summit, which will be held on Tuesday in the Kazakh capital Astana, comes at a time when China is intensifying its outreach to Central Asian countries amid shifting global power alignments — and mounting tensions in neighbouring Iran, which is roiled in an escalating conflict with Israel. The summit will bring together the heads of state from all five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — along with Xi. The Astana summit also carries symbolic weight: it is the first time that the five Central Asian nations are holding a summit in the region with the leader of another country. So, what is the importance of the China-Central Asia Summit? And is China battling both the United States and Russia for influence in the region? On Monday, Xi was greeted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other senior officials at the airport in Astana. The Astana summit follows the inaugural May 2023 China–Central Asia Summit, which was held in Xi'an, the capital city of China's Shaanxi province. Xi is expected to be in Astana from June 16 to 18 and is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Kazakhstan's leaders on Monday before the summit on June 17. At the summit, he is expected to deliver a keynote speech and 'exchange views on the achievements of the China-Central Asia mechanism, mutually beneficial cooperation under the framework, and international and regional hotspot issues,' said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson. The office of Kazakhstan's president noted that both countries are 'set to further strengthen bilateral ties' and Xi will also chair 'high-level talks with President [Tokayev] focused on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership'. Tokayev, who has been in office since 2019, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and previously served as a diplomat in China. Zhao Long, a senior research fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), told Al Jazeera that Central Asian countries see their partnership with China as a deep, multifaceted cooperation grounded in shared strategic and pragmatic interests. 'The alignment with China helps Central Asian states enhance their regional stability, pursue economic modernisation, and diversify their diplomatic portfolios,' said Zhao. Where Central Asia has abundant energy resources, he said, China offers vast markets, advanced technology, and infrastructure expertise. Last Friday, Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a news briefing that establishing 'the China-Central Asia mechanism was a unanimous decision among China and the five Central Asian countries, which dovetails with the region's common desire to maintain stability and pursue high-quality development'. Since China first formalised and chaired the China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023, Lin said, 'China's relations with Central Asian countries have entered a new era … injecting fresh impetus into regional development and delivering tangibly for the peoples of all six countries.' 'We believe through this summit, China and five Central Asian countries will further consolidate the foundation of mutual trust,' Lin added. 'During the summit, President Xi will also meet with these leaders and lay out the top-level plan for China's relations with [the] five Central Asian countries,' said the spokesperson. SISS's Zhao said Xi's attendance at the second summit sends a clear message: 'China places high strategic importance on Central Asia.' Experts are dubbing the China-Central Asia Summit as a C5+1 framework, because of the five regional nations involved. The United States first initiated the concept of such a summit with all five Central Asian nations in 2015, under then-US President Barack Obama. But at the time, the conclave was held at the level of foreign ministers. Then-US Secretary of State John Kerry led the first meeting in September 2015 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In January 2022, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit with the five Central Asian state heads, and then in June 2025, he invited them for a follow-up conclave in India. Meanwhile, in 2023, Xi hosted the leaders in Xi'an. Four months later, then-US President Joe Biden hosted the C5 state heads on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. It was the first time a US president met with Central Asian heads of state under this framework. But current US President Donald Trump's tariff policies could upset that outreach from Washington. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have all been tariffed at 10 percent. Trump initially imposed an even higher 27 percent tariff on imports from Kazakhstan, the region's largest economy, though as with all other countries, the US president has paused these rates, limiting tariffs to a flat 10 percent for now. China has cited these tariff rates to project itself as a more reliable partner to Central Asia than the US. At the meeting with the foreign ministers of the region in April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised unilateralism, trade protectionism, and 'the trend of anti-globalisation [that] has severely impacted the free trade system'. The US, Wang said, was 'undermining the rule-based multilateral trading system, and destabilising the global economy'. The region, rich in uranium, oil, and rare earth metals, has become increasingly important to China as a key corridor for trade with Europe. Subsequently, China has increased its engagement with Central Asian countries. Xi, who has curtailed his foreign visits since the COVID-19 pandemic, is visiting Kazakhstan for the third time since 2020. He visited in 2022, and then again in 2024. Central Asia is also a critical part of Xi's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — a network of highways, railroads and ports connecting Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America — as a gateway to Europe. Experts expect the BRI to figure prominently at the summit in Astana on Tuesday, with additional emphasis on collaboration in energy and sustainable development. A planned $8bn railway connecting China's Xinjiang region to Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan is likely to be on the agenda, the SISS's Zhao said. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in July. Expected to be completed by 2030, the railway route will provide China with more direct access to Central Asia and reduce the three countries' reliance on Russia's transport infrastructure. Additionally, Zhao said that the summit may feature agreements on reducing tariffs, streamlining customs procedures, and lowering non-tariff barriers to boost bilateral trade volumes. A lot. China is today the top trading partner of each of the five Central Asian republics. China is also ramping up its investments in the region. It has committed to an estimated $26bn in investments in Kazakhstan, for instance. It's complicated. Formerly parts of the Soviet Union, the five Central Asian republics have long belonged in Russia's strategic sphere of influence. Millions of people from the five republics live and work in Russia, and since 2023, Moscow has become a supplier of natural gas to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which have faced energy shortages — even though Central Asia was historically a supplier of energy to Russia. But though Russia remains a major economic force in the region, China has overtaken it as the largest trading partner of Central Asian republics over the past three years — a period that has coincided with Russia's war on Ukraine. Some of that increased trade, in fact, is believed to be the outcome of China using Central Asia as a conduit for exports to Russia of goods that face Western sanctions. Still, there are ways in which Russia remains the region's preeminent outside ally. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan — three of the region's five nations — are part of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) — along with Russia, Armenia and Belarus. Like NATO, this bloc offers collective security guarantees to members. In effect, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have the cover of Russia's protection if they are attacked by another nation — something that China does not offer.
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
CGTN: Second China-Central Asia Summit eyes a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future
BEIJING , June 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- Following the announcement by China's Foreign Ministry that President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan next week, CGTN published an article that explores the practical cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries. The article also examines how the upcoming summit will contribute to building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana from June 16 to 18 at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The upcoming summit would present a new opportunity for China and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – to deepen strategic trust, enhance practical cooperation and jointly contribute stability and positive momentum to a world fraught with uncertainty, Cui Zheng , director of the Research Center for Russia , Eastern Europe , and Central Asian Countries at Liaoning University, told CGTN. "It will further strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, drive more new outcomes in China -Central Asia cooperation and open a new chapter in the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future," Cui said. On January 25, 2022 , China and the five Central Asian countries jointly announced building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. During the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, Xi outlined a clear road map for building a closer community, anchored in four key principles: mutual assistance, common development, universal security and everlasting friendship. Since then, the momentum generated by the first high-level gathering has translated into tangible progress. All six nations are now looking forward to consolidating these achievements and exploring new pathways for deeper regional cooperation. From strategic consensus to practical cooperation The inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023 was a landmark event, marking the institutionalization of a multilateral mechanism that prioritizes peace, development and mutual respect. One of the summit's most significant outcomes was the signing of the Xi'an Declaration, where the six countries pledged to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Since then, concrete cooperation projects have been launched in various fields, turning the outcomes of the Xi'an Summit into reality. For example, the China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan railway project, long under discussion, has officially entered the construction preparation phase. When completed, it will significantly reduce logistics costs and time, boosting trade efficiency across the region. The railway is expected to connect the Asia-Pacific region with Europe , offering a new solution for trans-Eurasian transportation. The railway serves as a vivid example of China-Central Asia practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which continues to yield high-quality and tangible outcomes – from connectivity and capacity cooperation to clean energy and infrastructure. In Kazakhstan , the China - Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines and the Shymkent Oil Refinery are operating steadily. In Uzbekistan , the 1,500 MW gas-fired power plant project in the Syrdarya region has been commissioned, and the Olympic City project is progressing smoothly. In Tajikistan , cooperative projects including government buildings, parliament offices and key sections of Phase II of the China - Tajikistan highway are being actively implemented. According to China National Petroleum Corporation, as of March 2025 , the cumulative natural gas trade volume between Turkmenistan and China , flowing through the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, reached 430 billion cubic meters – equivalent to China's entire annual gas consumption. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, trade between China and the five Central Asian countries exceeded $94.8 billion in 2024, marking a $5.4 billion increase from 2023. Chinese investment in Central Asia has continued to expand, especially in green energy and agricultural processing sectors. Noting that Central Asia is both the "birthplace" and a key demonstration area for the BRI, Professor Cui emphasized that the new summit will further promote high-quality regional cooperation, with rapid advancements in trade and investment. The upcoming summit will not only be a window to showcase the achievements of multilateral cooperation but also provide a new model for South-South cooperation, he added.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
CGTN: Second China-Central Asia Summit eyes a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future
BEIJING, June 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the announcement by China's Foreign Ministry that President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan next week, CGTN published an article that explores the practical cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries. The article also examines how the upcoming summit will contribute to building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana from June 16 to 18 at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The upcoming summit would present a new opportunity for China and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – to deepen strategic trust, enhance practical cooperation and jointly contribute stability and positive momentum to a world fraught with uncertainty, Cui Zheng, director of the Research Center for Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asian Countries at Liaoning University, told CGTN. "It will further strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, drive more new outcomes in China-Central Asia cooperation and open a new chapter in the building of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future," Cui said. On January 25, 2022, China and the five Central Asian countries jointly announced building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. During the first China-Central Asia Summit in 2023, Xi outlined a clear road map for building a closer community, anchored in four key principles: mutual assistance, common development, universal security and everlasting friendship. Since then, the momentum generated by the first high-level gathering has translated into tangible progress. All six nations are now looking forward to consolidating these achievements and exploring new pathways for deeper regional cooperation. From strategic consensus to practical cooperation The inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023 was a landmark event, marking the institutionalization of a multilateral mechanism that prioritizes peace, development and mutual respect. One of the summit's most significant outcomes was the signing of the Xi'an Declaration, where the six countries pledged to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Since then, concrete cooperation projects have been launched in various fields, turning the outcomes of the Xi'an Summit into reality. For example, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, long under discussion, has officially entered the construction preparation phase. When completed, it will significantly reduce logistics costs and time, boosting trade efficiency across the region. The railway is expected to connect the Asia-Pacific region with Europe, offering a new solution for trans-Eurasian transportation. The railway serves as a vivid example of China-Central Asia practical cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which continues to yield high-quality and tangible outcomes – from connectivity and capacity cooperation to clean energy and infrastructure. In Kazakhstan, the China-Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines and the Shymkent Oil Refinery are operating steadily. In Uzbekistan, the 1,500 MW gas-fired power plant project in the Syrdarya region has been commissioned, and the Olympic City project is progressing smoothly. In Tajikistan, cooperative projects including government buildings, parliament offices and key sections of Phase II of the China-Tajikistan highway are being actively implemented. According to China National Petroleum Corporation, as of March 2025, the cumulative natural gas trade volume between Turkmenistan and China, flowing through the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline, reached 430 billion cubic meters – equivalent to China's entire annual gas consumption. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, trade between China and the five Central Asian countries exceeded $94.8 billion in 2024, marking a $5.4 billion increase from 2023. Chinese investment in Central Asia has continued to expand, especially in green energy and agricultural processing sectors. Noting that Central Asia is both the "birthplace" and a key demonstration area for the BRI, Professor Cui emphasized that the new summit will further promote high-quality regional cooperation, with rapid advancements in trade and investment. The upcoming summit will not only be a window to showcase the achievements of multilateral cooperation but also provide a new model for South-South cooperation, he added. SOURCE CGTN Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
