Qiang Xiaoyun: Working Together to Build a Closer China–Central Asia Community with a Shared Future
On June 17, the second China–Central Asia Summit was held at the Palace of Independence in Astana, Kazakhstan. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled "Carrying Forward the 'China–Central Asia Spirit' and Promoting High-Quality Development of Regional Cooperation," in which he noted: "Three years ago, we jointly announced the building of a China–Central Asia community with a shared future, pointing out the goals and direction for the six nations to consolidate consensus, overcome challenges, and seek common development. Guided by the 'China–Central Asia Spirit,' we must strengthen cooperation with a more proactive posture and more pragmatic measures, promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forge ahead toward the goal of a community with a shared future." At a moment when changes unseen in a century [1] are accelerating and the international and regional situations are intertwined with chaos and turbulence, the joint effort by China and Central Asian countries to build an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future is timely. It points the way and provides the fundamental follow-through [2] for advancing shared modernization, creating a model for regional cooperation, and building a new type of international relations.
Building an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future conforms to the trend of the times
President Xi Jinping has pointed out: "History cannot retreat; it must move forward. The world must not be split; it must be united. Humanity cannot return to the law of the jungle; it must build a community with a shared future for humanity." In January 2022, at the virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the five Central Asian nations, President Xi Jinping proposed the construction of an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future. This initiative represents a "China–Central Asia solution" for confronting global challenges.
In today's world, challenges and opportunities coexist. On the one hand, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. This brings severe challenges to Central Asia and the entire world, as instability and uncertainty become the norm. Regional hotspots emerge one after another, while unilateralism and protectionism run rampant. Certain countries "brandish" the big stick of sanctions and tariffs, willfully trampling on the interests of others, resulting in a deficit of trust and a vacuum in governance. Globally, the peace deficit continues to deepen, the development deficit continues to expand, the security deficit is becoming increasingly prominent, and the governance deficit is growing more severe. On the other hand, faced with global and regional challenges, the tasks of promoting development and prosperity and maintaining peace and security have become increasingly heavy. More and more countries, including China and the five Central Asian nations, are becoming aware of the importance and urgency of jointly responding to challenges and tiding over difficulties together.
The mutual interdependence of all nations is the great trend of history. Living under the same sky, whether near neighbors or distant friends, whether large or small, whether developed or developing, all countries are increasingly forming a community of interests, responsibility, and destiny where interests are intertwined and security is shared. Against the backdrop of the information age, the exchanges and links between China and Central Asian countries have become more frequent, closer, deeper, and broader. Throughout more than 30 years of friendly diplomatic relations, China and Central Asian countries have adhered to mutual respect, good-neighborliness, solidarity in times of adversity, and mutual benefit. Political mutual trust and comprehensive cooperation have reached unprecedented heights, setting a model for a new type of international relations.
The systemic driving forces formed by changes in the global and regional political and economic landscape are pushing Central Asian countries to establish dialogue platforms with major actors in a "collective identity" to cooperatively address challenges. Faced with the impact of internal and external changes, political stability, economic recovery, and social security have become the common aspirations of Central Asian countries. The geopolitical turbulence triggered by the Ukraine crisis has pushed the Central Asian region toward becoming a global "hub zone." To realize this transformation of roles and functions, Central Asian countries have accelerated the process of regional integration. In July 2022, the Fourth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia held in Kyrgyzstan saw the signing of the Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century, marking a new stage in Central Asian integration.
Deep historical roots and extensive practical needs have laid a solid foundation for China–Central Asia cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative has closely united China and Central Asian countries. The form, structure, and kinetic mechanisms of Central Asian regional integration are also undergoing positive changes. In building a community with a shared future for humanity, China and Central Asian countries have always stood in the "first phalanx" of the international community. The Joint Statement between the Leaders of China and the Five Central Asian Countries on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties stated: "The six countries are determined to continue working together to build a strategic partnership with rich connotations, fruitful results, and lasting friendship on the basis of taking into account each other's interests, and to create a China–Central Asia community with a shared future." This solemn commitment fully demonstrates the determination of the six nations to firmly promote the continuous, stable, and forward development of bilateral relations, which will inject more positive energy into regional peace and development and bring more well-being to the people of both sides. This pattern of cooperation—where "you are in me and I am in you"—characterized by interdependence and mutual benefit, allows China and Central Asian countries to benefit together and share in development. Chinese-path modernization requires a stable, tranquil, and flourishing Central Asia. As a systematic integrator of regional industrial and supply chains, China can also promote the restructuring of industrial systems in Central Asian countries. The all-round cooperation between China and Central Asian countries will promote prosperity and stability throughout the region.
Promoting shared modernization is the common vision for building an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future
China and the five Central Asian countries are all developing nations and have always been fellow travelers on the road to modernization. President Xi Jinping pointed out: "Our cooperation is rooted in more than two thousand years of friendly exchanges, consolidated by more than 30 years of solidarity and mutual trust since the establishment of diplomatic ties, and developed through openness and win-win cooperation in the New Era." Currently, China is comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization; Central Asian countries are also persisting in following development paths suited to their own national conditions, striving to achieve developmental transformation and national revitalization. Under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and the heads of state of the Central Asian nations, all-round cooperation between China and Central Asian countries continues to go deep and go real.
Continuously strengthening political mutual trust is the political foundation for promoting shared modernization. Over the 30-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Central Asian countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and provided mutual support and active communication on issues involving each other's major core interests. The most significant innovation of this summit was the joint signing by the six heads of state of the "Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation," codifying the principle of generational friendship in legal form. This is a new milestone in the history of relations between the six nations, a feat that achieves merit in the present and benefits for a thousand autumns. The signing of the treaty shows that political mutual trust between China and Central Asian countries has reached new heights, strategic coordination has taken new steps, and people-to-people connectivity has achieved a new leap, which will consolidate the foundation for the long-term stable development of relations. China and the five Central Asian countries have achieved "triple full coverage"—comprehensive strategic partnerships, Belt and Road cooperation partnerships, and bilateral and regional communities with a shared future—demonstrating a high degree of mutual trust.
Continuously deepening pragmatic cooperation is the economic foundation for promoting shared modernization. The level of cooperation between China and the five Central Asian nations in traditional fields such as investment, trade, infrastructure, and energy minerals continues to rise, while cooperation in emerging industries such as green development, artificial intelligence, and cross-border e-commerce has expanded. In 2024, the trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries reached $94.8 billion, hitting another record high. Since the first China–Central Asia Summit, the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project has officially started, the planning for the third railway between China and Kazakhstan is moving forward steadily, the phase II renovation of the China–Tajikistan highway is progressing smoothly, and China–Turkmenistan energy cooperation is being carried out steadily. At this summit, the six heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Action Plan for the High-Quality Construction of the Belt and Road, marking the first time China has signed a collective Belt and Road cooperation document with all countries within a single neighboring region. This makes Central Asia's character as a "demonstration zone" for high-quality Belt and Road construction even more distinct and its momentum stronger. China and Central Asian countries also signed cooperation documents in fields such as facilitation of personnel exchanges, green minerals, unimpeded trade, connectivity, industry, and customs, and established the China–Central Asia Trade Facilitation Cooperation Platform. All parties will focus on six priority directions—unimpeded trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization, and personnel exchanges—to promote more visible results and assist in their respective development and revitalization.
Increasingly strengthened security cooperation is the stability foundation for promoting shared modernization. President Xi Jinping pointed out: "The Chinese side supports the efforts made by Central Asian countries to realize the modernization of national defense and law enforcement security, and is willing to provide assistance within its capacity for countries to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime, maintain cyber and biosecurity, and implement more 'Safe City' projects and joint exercise and training cooperation." China and Central Asian countries are jointly practicing the Global Security Initiative and continuously strengthening security cooperation. In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have jointly combated the "Three Forces" [3] as well as transnational organized crime, jointly responded to security threats, and helped Afghanistan achieve peace, stability, and reconstruction at an early date, creating a regional security pattern of peace, tranquility, and shared destiny. Multi-field cooperation and concurrent measures have effectively maintained regional security and stability.
Continuously expanding people-to-people and cultural cooperation is the public opinion foundation for promoting shared modernization. The relationship between states lies in the affinity between their peoples. President Xi Jinping noted: "I hope that the measures for facilitating personnel exchanges passed today will take root and achieve results as soon as possible, making travel more convenient and efficient for the people of the six countries, so they can visit each other as frequently as relatives, becoming closer with each visit." During this summit, China and the five Central Asian countries signed multiple sister-city agreements, with the number of sister cities exceeding 100 pairs. China is willing to open more cultural centers, university branches, and Luban Workshops [4] in Central Asia, establish more Central Asian language majors in Chinese universities, and continue to implement the "China–Central Asia Technical Skills Enhancement Program" to train more high-quality talents for Central Asian countries. Using sister-city exchanges as a bridge and cultural exchanges as a handle, China and Central Asian countries are jointly creating a "heart-to-heart connectivity" pattern from the central to local levels, from official to non-governmental sectors, and from neighboring areas to the wider region.
Building an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future sets a model for constructing a new type of international relations
President Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must deepen strategic mutual trust, and on issues concerning core interests such as sovereignty, independence, national dignity, and long-term development, always give each other clear and powerful support, working together to build a community of mutual assistance, solidarity, and mutual trust." Building an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future opens up a new pattern for international exchanges and sets a model for constructing a new type of international relations. The China–Central Asia community with a shared future is based on establishing a partnership pattern of equal treatment, mutual consultation, and mutual understanding. Through more than 30 years of joint efforts, China and the five Central Asian nations have achieved full coverage of comprehensive strategic partnerships. In the diplomatic layouts of both China and the Central Asian countries, each occupies an important position.
This has set a model of mutual respect in a new type of international relations. In the 30-plus years since their independence, Central Asian countries have been committed to consolidating political independence, opposing external interference, persisting in development paths suited to their own national conditions, and seeking a diversified, balanced, independent, and autonomous diplomacy. China firmly supports Central Asian countries in independently choosing their development paths and supports all countries in safeguarding their national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Central Asian countries have reaffirmed their adherence to the one-China principle, recognizing that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
This has set a model of good-neighborliness and friendship in a new type of international relations. The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs Concerning Neighboring Countries pointed out: "Our country has a vast territory and long borders; the periphery is an important foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a focus for maintaining national security, a priority in maneuvering the overall diplomatic situation, and a key to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity." President Xi Jinping noted: "China always regards Central Asia as a priority direction in its peripheral diplomacy, adheres to the concept and policy of building friendships and partnerships with neighbors and creating a broad environment of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, treats Central Asian countries as equals with sincerity, and always hopes for the best for its relatives and neighbors." Central Asia is one of China's important peripheries, the place where the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road was first proposed, and an active participant in promoting the initiative. More than 30 years of interaction show that good-neighborliness and friendship are the cornerstones for promoting high-quality shared development between China and Central Asian countries. China will use the construction of "Five Great Homes"—peaceful, tranquil, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly—as a common vision; use the concepts of good-neighborliness, security, enrichment, amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, and shared destiny as its policy guidelines; use the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness as its basic follow-through; use high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as its primary platform; and use the Asian security model of sharing safety and danger, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation as its strategic support to join hands with Central Asian countries in creating a better future.
This has set a model of fairness and justice in a new type of international relations. Justice is one of humanity's eternal pursuits for a better world. The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In an era of intertwined turmoil, rampant unilateralism, and frequent global and regional problems, China and Central Asian countries are jointly maintaining a correct view of the history of World War II, opposing hegemonism, actively maintaining and practicing true multilateralism, upholding the post-war international order, and defending international fairness and justice. Building an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future conforms to the interests and development aspirations of China and Central Asian countries. The reason China and Central Asian countries can cooperate closely and the China–Central Asia mechanism can develop smoothly lies in the "China–Central Asia Spirit" of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and promoting shared modernization through high-quality development." The successful holding of this summit is a new milestone in China–Central Asia cooperation and will surely promote a historic leap in relations. Under the guidance of the "China–Central Asia Spirit," China and Central Asian countries will work together to build an even closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future, jointly painting a beautiful picture for the next "Golden Thirty Years" of good-neighborliness, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation, making greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.