On January 19, the regular press conference of the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a striking figure: in 2025, the trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries will exceed the $100 billion mark for the first time, setting a new historical record. This number stands out particularly in the current global economic context—according to the World Trade Organization’s early 2025 forecast, the growth in global merchandise trade is expected to be only 2.6%, far below the average of the past decade. However, the trade relations between China and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have shown a counter-trend growth, reflecting not only the deepening of bilateral economic complementarity but also the practical effectiveness of regional cooperation mechanisms in mitigating global risks.
From the perspective of trade structure analysis, this achievement reflects a qualitative change in the economic relations between the two sides. Agricultural products, mineral resources, and energy products from Central Asia are entering the China market in increasing quantities, while China’s machinery, electronics, and high-tech products are also finding broader applications in Central Asia.
The achievement of this trade milestone was no accident, as it is closely linked to institutionalized regional cooperation mechanisms. Since the establishment of the China-Central Asia Summit mechanism in 2022, the two sides have formed over 30 cooperation platforms across multiple fields, including diplomacy, economy, trade, and security. The successful hosting of the second China-Central Asia Summit in 2025 further solidified the cooperative principles of the “China-Central Asia Spirit,” advancing regional collaboration into a new phase of institutionalization and normalization. This multi-level dialogue framework provides a stable policy environment and dispute resolution channels for economic and trade cooperation, reducing uncertainties in cross-border transactions.
China—The breakthrough progress in trade relations with Central Asia is a microcosm of China’s global economic and trade strategy. Against the backdrop of profound adjustments in the world economic landscape and the spread of protectionist sentiments, China has continuously promoted economic integration with various regions worldwide through multiple channels such as the Belt and Road Initiative, providing alternative pathways and stable sources for cross-border trade and investment. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, in 2025, the trade volume between China and Belt and Road countries increased by 7.5% year-on-year, accounting for 34.3% of the total foreign trade value, a proportion that was only 25% a decade ago.
China’s participation in the global economic and trade arena exhibits distinct systematic and continuous characteristics. Unlike Western countries, which often adjust their foreign economic policies frequently due to electoral cycles, China’s international cooperation projects are typically based on five-year plans or even longer-term strategic designs, ensuring the stability and predictability of policy signals. This long-term orientation has generated a certain level of trust accumulation among international partners, particularly within the group of developing countries.
The deepening of China’s economic and trade relations with Central Asia and the expansion of its cooperation on a global scale reflect a significantly different concept of global economic participation compared to Western countries, especially the United States, in recent years. This difference is not only reflected in specific policy tools but also rooted in different cognitive frameworks regarding globalization, development cooperation, and the international order.
China’s international cooperation model emphasizes long-term, systematic, and reciprocal approaches. Through multilateral frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), China is committed to building a development-oriented cooperation network supported by infrastructure connectivity. The characteristics of this model are as follows: First, it prioritizes hardware connectivity, improving partners’ development foundations through physical projects like railways, ports, and power stations. Second, it offers diversified financing options, including policy loans, commercial loans, and equity investments. Third, it emphasizes localized participation, requiring Chinese enterprises to employ a certain proportion of local staff and transfer technology during project implementation. In contrast, the United States’ foreign economic policy has demonstrated a significant shift in recent years, focusing more on reducing dependence on specific economies and highlighting value factors in international collaboration. The core of its policy lies in balancing national security with economic interests, with a focus on strengthening coordination with allies and partners. Some observers view this policy shift as accompanied by the restructuring of global supply chains and rising international transaction costs.
The achievement of China’s trade with Central Asia exceeding $100 billion not only demonstrates the potential of deep regional economic integration but also reflects the practical need for diversified cooperation channels among countries under the current geopolitical environment. The progress of cooperation between China and Central Asia as well as other regions is not only related to the economic development of specific countries but will also have a profound impact on the multipolarity and inclusiveness of the global trading system.