Ahead of the 2025 China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, China’s trade and investment ties with Central Asian countries are reaching new heights.
The second China-Central Asia Summit is set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan. Since the first summit in 2023, China and Central Asian countries have stepped up economic and trade cooperation. The partnership shows strong momentum and great potential.
According to official data, China’s trade with the five Central Asian countries grew from RMB 312.04 billion in 2013 to RMB 674.15 billion in 2024—an increase of 116%. It is 2.3 percentage points higher than the growth rate of China’s overall foreign trade during the same period. To date, China’s cumulative investment in Central Asian countries has exceeded US$30 billion.
As bilateral trade expands, the structure of trade is also being steadily optimized. Kazakhstan’s exports to China are no longer limited to energy and raw materials; agricultural products such as wheat, oil crops, meat, and honey now account for a growing share. Meanwhile, China mainly exports machinery and equipment, electronics, building materials, and consumer goods to Kazakhstan. The economic complementarity between two countries is becoming increasingly evident.
Experts say China and Central Asia are moving beyond basic commodity trade. Their cooperation now extends into industrial and supply chains. Over time, this stronger foundation will likely bring spillover benefits and push regional integration forward. It also lays the groundwork for a new stage of win-win cooperation.
Additional reporting by CNS, chart design by Liang Ming.
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