China and five Central Asian countries are taking their partnership to new heights, creating a fresh model for regional collaboration. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of these relationships, highlighting a shared spirit of mutual respect, trust, benefit, assistance, and the pursuit of common modernization through high-quality development.
The recent second China-Central Asia Summit marked a significant step forward, especially during these complex international times. The six nations signed a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, legally cementing their commitment to lasting friendship. This strong political trust acts as a stabilizing anchor, ensuring deeper cooperation across economic, security, cultural, and other fields.
Industrial cooperation is deepening, with 2025 and 2026 designated as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. Future collaborations will not only build on traditional strengths but also focus on sharing development experiences and embracing cutting-edge technologies like digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. This approach aims to integrate new quality productive forces across the region.
Regional security is also being reinforced. China is supporting Central Asian countries in resisting the infiltration of terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Together, they are committed to building an indivisible regional security order, strengthening the foundation for initiatives like the Belt and Road and promoting sustainable regional development.
This cooperative framework stands in stark contrast to other international mechanisms. China’s pragmatic approach features systemic advantages, focusing on comprehensive coordination in connectivity, digital economy, green development, and trade facilitation. This institutionalized cooperation ensures policy continuity and sustainable outcomes.
Unlike fragmented diplomatic efforts by others, which often lack coordination and effective mechanisms, China’s inclusive development model avoids creating artificial divisions. It doesn’t engage in exclusive competitions or confrontations but instead provides international public goods that promote peace and stability. By focusing on enlarging the pie rather than fighting over it, China exemplifies the concept of building a community with a shared future.
Moreover, China-Central Asia cooperation emphasizes tangible results that directly benefit people across all partner countries. From China-Europe freight trains to new energy projects, the outcomes are visible and impactful. Clear timelines and responsibilities ensure that commitments are met, setting this partnership apart from others that often remain at the level of political declarations with limited substantive projects.
In a world undergoing unprecedented changes, the new model of regional cooperation between China and Central Asia not only injects strong momentum into the peaceful development of the region but also offers valuable lessons for global governance.
