The Fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which was chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was held on Sunday, December 1, 2024 in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Wang Yi, together with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan), reviewed the implementation of the outcomes of the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit and held in-depth discussions on preparations for the second summit scheduled for Kazakhstan next year. The meeting strengthened mutual trust and friendship and clarified the direction of future projects.[1]
China and Central Asian countries’ trade relations, which started with the Silk Road in the past, have evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership with energy projects such as oil and gas pipelines, security under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This meeting is important for strengthening relations between China and Central Asian countries and deepening regional cooperation. The developing relations between the countries have enabled Central Asia to play a more active role in international trade, while enabling China to interact with Eurasia through Central Asia, thus creating a strategic importance for economic development.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, summarized the results and consensus of the Fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting following:
- Stick to the guidance of heads of state to develop and strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism.
- Commitment to modernization goals and deepening of all-round cooperation.
- Shared responsibility for security, focusing on maintaining regional peace and stability.
- Promoting mutual learning among civilizations and building a solid foundation for lasting friendship.
- Defending multilateralism to safeguard international fairness and justice.
At the meeting, Wang also emphasized maintaining the leadership by heads of state to strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, continuing to implement the consensus reached at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an, and the importance of advancing China-Central Asia cooperation. The leaders expressed their support for Kazakhstan in hosting the summit next year and agreed to begin the process of signing a joint declaration, an action plan for high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, a Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation among China and Central Asian countries, and other key documents. The meeting also aimed to build a “China-Central Asia Spirit” on the basis of shared ideas and values developed during long-term cooperation.[2]
China imports oil and natural gas from Central Asia and energy cooperation is developing through projects such as the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline and the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline. China is also one of Central Asia’s largest trade and investment partners. These investments among the parties increase China’s economic influence in the region and contribute to the economic development of Central Asian countries. Especially the transportation routes developed under the BRI have facilitated access to global markets and strengthened regional logistics networks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the first China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an on May 18, 2023. The format reflects the ministerial-level C5+1 Diplomatic Platform established in 2015 between the United States and five countries in the region, but also includes heads of state. This represents a shift for Beijing, which has focused on Central Asia’s economic issues for a long time, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative.[3]
The summit played a critical role in revealing the strategic importance of the relations that started as neighbors through investments and cooperation for the future, thus ensuring the development of relations on the basis of mutual benefit in the international arena in political terms. In addition to areas that promote trade, such as transportation infrastructure or railways, interaction has been achieved in many areas in line with modernization goals, such as the establishment of 5G networks in Central Asia and Chinese language education through Confucius Institutes. Thus, the role of Central Asian countries in the international arena has increased, while China’s economic and cultural influence in the global arena has increased, especially in terms of reaching Europe through the BRI.
During the summit, a number of multilateral and bilateral documents were signed, plans for cooperation in various fields were drawn up, and consensus was reached on key cooperation initiatives, including the establishment of the China-Central Asia energy development partnership and support for the development of the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor. Wang Yi said that this historic summit completed the platform-building and overall planning of China-Central Asia cooperation and opened a new door for cooperation to move to a higher level.[4]
Cooperation based on equality, respect, openness, inclusiveness and mutual support among the parties sets an example for the region and the world in general in terms of multilateral cooperation. They also represent a critical partnership that combines both economic and security perspectives, while preserving geopolitical sensitivities in the process of shaping a multipolar world order.
To conclude, China’s economic and security cooperation with Central Asian countries not only increases China’s effectiveness in global trade but also helps the development of Central Asian countries through projects such as various infrastructure and transportation corridors. These cooperations also enable stronger political ties. In fact, in the process leading to a multipolar world order, trade relations among Central Asian countries and China reduce the West’s economic influence in the region and create a balance to the Western-centered order. Moreover, the BRI’s projects with Central Asia have strengthened China’s global trade networks and stabilized security and power balances with geopolitically key actors in Eurasia.
[1] “Fifth China-Central Asia FM’s meeting agrees to deepen cooperation, reaffirm commitment to multilateralism”, Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202412/1324149.shtml, (Date of Access: 06.12.2024).
[2] Ibid.
[3]“The first China-Central Asia Summit”, International Institude for Strategic Studies, https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-comments/2023/the-first-china-central-asia-summit/, (Date of Access: 06.12.2024).
[4] “Wang Yi: The China-Central Asia Summit Creates a New Platform for Good-neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation in the Region”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs the People’s Republic of China, https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjbzhd/202403/t20240319_11262316.html, (Date of Access: 06.12.2024).
