Over the past decade, trade between the Chinese mainland and the five Central Asian countries has more than doubled, reflecting a 116% increase from 312.04 billion yuan in 2013 to 674.15 billion yuan in 2024, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
This growth averages 7.3% annually, outpacing the mainland’s overall trade growth by 2.3 percentage points. Momentum continued into early 2025: trade reached a record 286.42 billion yuan in the first five months, up 10.4% year on year.
Agriculture has emerged as a key growth area. From January to May 2025, the mainland imported 4.36 billion yuan worth of Central Asian agricultural goods—a 26.9% jump. Notably, linseed imports from Kazakhstan soared 202.1%, raisin imports from Uzbekistan rose 153.7%, and honey from Kyrgyzstan climbed 10.9-fold.
Improved logistics have played a major role. In 2024, road transport accounted for 51.8% of trade with the region, up sharply from 19.9% in 2020, highlighting new land corridors boosting connectivity.
The second Chinese mainland–Central Asia Summit will be held in Astana from June 16 to 18. The summit builds on a mechanism jointly established by the mainland and the five countries to strengthen regional stability and promote high-quality development.
As Astana approaches, both businesses and communities are poised to benefit from deeper ties and emerging opportunities across trade, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
