CENTRAL ASIA'S SPOTLIGHT: CHINA'S INCREASED INVOLVEMENT
Xi Jinping, China's leader, travels to Kazakhstan to strengthen diplomatic ties in Central Asia.
The region of Central Asia found itself in the global limelight once more as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan for a summit with regional leaders. The meeting, which took place on June 17, 2025, is a testament to China's growing influence in the region, much to the competition of Russia.
The Central Asian powers gathered in the Kazakh capital were Xi, the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Since attaining independence, these countries have attracted interest from major world players like China and the United States. With a wealth of natural resources and a strategic position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Central Asia is a hotbed of geopolitical activity.
Historically, Russia has held strong ties with the region, serving as a strategic partner. However, the relationship has weakened somewhat following the conflict in Ukraine. The Central Asian nations are now capitalizing on the increased attention and coordinating their foreign policies accordingly, attending various summits with both China and Russia to present a unified front and attract investments.
These gatherings, often referred to as the "5+1" format, also include meetings with the European Union, Türkiye, and other Western countries.
According to Kyrgyz political scientist Nargiza Muratalieva, the region is carefully balancing its power relationships to prevent excessive dependence on one partner. Indeed, China has position itself as Central Asia's leading trading partner, with trade volume estimated to have reached $94.8 billion in 2024 – far surpassing the EU, whose trade with the region was approximately $64 billion in 2023, and Russia, with trade estimated at $44 billion.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is largely responsible for China's rising influence in Central Asia. By making massive infrastructure investments, China aims to strengthen its political and diplomatic standing. Xi's visit to Kazakhstan is expected to open more opportunities for collaborating on the BRI, particularly in regards to the construction of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway and the China-Tajikistan highway through the Pamir Mountains to Afghanistan.
Transport corridors in the region are also being developed to cut delivery times for goods traveling from China to Europe, allowing them to bypass Russia and travel via the Caspian Sea. In addition, Chinese companies are increasingly involved in the energy sector of Central Asian countries, seeking contracts for gas in Turkmenistan, uranium in Kazakhstan, and rare earths in Tajikistan, among others.
The geopolitical landscape of Central Asia is rapidly evolving, with China asserting its dominance through influential investments and expanding its strategic partnerships. In response, Russia and other world powers are likely to maintain their interests in the region, ensuring a continued battle for influence in the midst of geopolitical tensions.
References:
[1] Chen, Yusheng. "The Belt and Road Initiative and Its Impact on Eurasian Politics: China's New Silk Road." Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. 2018.
[2] Foreign Policy Research Institute. "China's Belt and Road Initiative: What Every Leader Needs to Know." 2018.
[3] The Diplomat. "The Road Ahead: China's Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia." 2023.
[4] College of William & Mary. "China's Engagement in Central Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Policy." 2024.
[5] Brookings Institution. "Central Asia at a Crossroads: Assessing China's Influence and Opportunities." 2025.
- The increased Chinese involvement in Central Asia, as evidenced by the Belt and Road Initiative and large-scale investments in the region's industry, finance, and energy sectors, has resulted in a power shift that has grabbed the attention of global financial markets, fueling political debates over the region's future and strategic partnerships.
- As the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia continues to evolve, with China asserting dominance through strategic partnerships and active investing in various sectors like energy and infrastructure, the region becomes a hotbed for General-News, as the competition between world powers like Russia, the EU, Turkey, and the United States intensifies, shaping the political and economic landscape of this resource-rich and strategically positioned region.
