Astana, June 17, 2025
Following the Italy–Central Asia Summit and now the China–Central Asia Summit, Kazakhstan continues to assert its pivotal role as the leading power in Central Asia.
The second Central Asia–China summit concluded on June 17 with the signing of the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, marking a significant step in strengthening mutual trust and strategic cooperation between the five Central Asian states and China.
Since the first China–Central Asia summit held in Xi’an in 2023, trade between China and Central Asian countries has surged by 35%, reaching a historic high of nearly $100 billion last year.
In his speech, President Tokayev stated that the Central Asian region’s trade turnover with China hit a record $95 billion, with Kazakhstan–China trade accounting for $44 billion.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of cooperation in various areas such as poverty reduction, transport, and connectivity. The summit produced a raft of consensuses across areas ranging from security and trade to regional development.
Tokayev also focused on cooperation in nuclear energy, noting that Kazakhstan has decided to build several—at least two or three—nuclear power plants (NPPs). This initiative is part of the country’s broader commitment to achieving carbon neutrality. Emission reduction, the development of renewable energy, and the implementation of an Emissions Trading System demonstrate that Kazakhstan is even ahead of many European countries in the transition to sustainability.
In Kazakhstan, enabling “green” investments is essential for reaching the ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. The Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan projects that this transition will require $610 billion in investment over the next four decades.
That is why Tokayev said, “We consider the Chinese company CNNC [China National Nuclear Corporation] as a reliable strategic partner in the NPP construction project. CNNC is known worldwide for its high competence, so it will certainly occupy a worthy niche in our market. In addition, Kazakhstan is a reliable supplier of natural uranium and nuclear fuel to China.”
Trade between China and the region has expanded rapidly: from $460 million at the start of diplomatic relations to $89 billion in 2023, with further growth in 2025.
It is also worth noting that Central Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape is likely to see a rise in summits and economic forums driven by the interests of foreign powers. The EU–Central Asia Summit held in Samarkand is another example of the growing global interest in the region, which is increasingly seen as a bridge between Europe and Asia.
With the presence of the Chinese president in Kazakhstan, numerous bilateral agreements were signed between China and Kazakhstan. As the largest country in Central Asia, Kazakhstan shares a border of more than 1,700 kilometers with China.
Lastly, the most important point of this bilateral meeting between Kazakhstan and China was the demonstration of a trust-based partnership. Tokayev noted that “China never sets political conditions.” Implicitly, this suggests that other powers or countries may impose conditions when seeking partnerships with Kazakhstan. Therefore, Kazakhstan appears more inclined toward this kind of healthy, condition-free partnership. It is worth noting that after the EU–Central Asia Summit, the European side reportedly asked Central Asian countries to meet certain conditions before establishing cooperation and agreements. In the short term, such conditional partnerships may be established, but in the long term, countries are likely to turn toward more “Non-intrusive partnership” partnerships where no conditions are mandatory.
NOTE:
Derya Soysal is the Central Asian Corresponder for Eureporter.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
China never sets political conditions – Tokayev – AKIpress News Agency
Kazakhstan, China Deepen Strategic Partnership, Sign 24 Agreements – The Astana Times
Kazakhstan – European Commission
China, Central Asia Sign Treaty, Outline New Paths for Cooperation – The Astana Times
Key takeaways from 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana-Xinhua
The Second China‑Central Asia Summit and Bejing’s Strategy
La Chine et le Kazakhstan s’accordent à renforcer leur partenariat stratégique
