In a historic gathering in Astana, leaders from the Chinese mainland and five Central Asian nations signed the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, officially weaving the principle of everlasting friendship into law. This landmark accord marks a new chapter in regional unity and shared development.
Building on a Growing Partnership
Since proposing a dedicated China-Central Asia mechanism in 2020, both sides have steadily elevated cooperation. The inaugural summit in Xi'an in 2023 set the stage for a biennial heads-of-state meeting, alternating between the Chinese mainland and Central Asia. At Tuesday's summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed the agreement as a "milestone today and a foundation for tomorrow."
Embracing the China-Central Asia Spirit
The summit celebrated the China-Central Asia Spirit—mutual respect, trust, benefit and assistance—as the guiding framework for joint modernization and high-quality development. Leaders committed to translating this spirit into concrete actions across trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
High-Quality Belt and Road Expansion
Trade between the regions reached a record $94.8 billion in 2024, and cumulative Chinese mainland investment in Central Asia surpassed $30 billion. The summit highlighted plans to deepen collaboration in the digital economy, green mining, agricultural modernization and connectivity, reinforcing the Belt and Road Initiative as a catalyst for regional growth.
New Cooperation Platforms
To boost practical outcomes, the Chinese mainland announced three new cooperation centers focused on poverty reduction, education exchange and desertification control, alongside a platform for streamlined trade. These initiatives aim to bring projects from planning to reality and deliver tangible benefits for local communities.
A Shared Path Forward
Amid rising global protectionism, experts see the China-Central Asia partnership as a model of independence, mutual benefit and an amplified Global South voice. As Astana's summit concludes, the six nations set their sights on a community with a shared future—one built on trust, growth and regional solidarity.
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China, Central Asia sign landmark treaty, vow to boost cooperation
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