What Happened at the China-Central Asia Summit?
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
Pages 1 & 2: The entire front page today is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s engagements in Astana. The lead report is based on Xi’s speech (English text) at the China-Central Asia Summit. Xi first offered a positive appraisal of the developments over the past two years, since the last summit meeting between these countries. He said:
“Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have further deepened and substantiated Belt and Road cooperation. Our trade has grown by 35 percent, and we have made important progress in industrial investment, green mining, technological innovation, and other fields of cooperation. The package of projects with Chinese financial support are well underway. While more and more Chinese new energy vehicles and photovoltaic products are entering Central Asian markets, Central Asian agricultural products, including honey, fruits, wheat and poultry, are diversifying the dinner tables of Chinese families.
Two years on, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project has been officially launched. We are making steady progress in planning for the third railway link between China and Kazakhstan, in phase-II restoration of the China-Tajikistan highway, and in China-Turkmenistan energy cooperation. Freight train services are connecting more and more Chinese cities to Central Asia. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has been upgraded and expanded. Green industries, digital economy, artificial intelligence, aviation and space are becoming new drivers of our cooperation. Cross-border e-commerce, online education, and other new business models are benefiting more and more people in China and Central Asia.
Two years on, China and Central Asian countries have made progress in establishing cultural centers in each other as well as in opening branches of Chinese universities and Luban Workshops. China has made mutual visa-free arrangements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, facilitating more than 1.2 million travels between China and Kazakhstan alone in 2024. Tourism and culture years and art festivals of Central Asian countries are very popular in China. Chinese films and TV dramas, such as Min-Ning Town and To the Wonder, have become great hits in Central Asia. The China-Central Asia train services for cultural tourism have been successfully inaugurated. And today, we will witness the number of sister cities between China and Central Asia reach the milestone of 100 pairs.
Two years on, we have launched 13 ministerial cooperation platforms under the China-Central Asia mechanism. The Secretariat is fully functioning, and the core framework of the mechanism is largely in place.”
He then defined the China-Central Asia Spirit as one of: “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development”.
After this, Xi offered his prognosis of the state of the world:
“Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace across the globe, thrusting the world into a new state of heightened turbulence and volatility. A strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only way to maintain world peace and achieve common development. There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others. I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
He then made five specific points:
“First, we should stay committed to our fundamental goal of unity, and always trust and support each other … Today, we will sign together a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law. This is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors. It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow.”
“Second, we should optimize our cooperation framework to make it more results-oriented, more efficient, and more deeply integrated. We have agreed to designate 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. We should focus our cooperation on smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization and personnel exchanges, and roll out more projects on the ground. We should do our best to get early harvests as soon as possible. China is ready to share with Central Asian countries development experience and latest technological advances, promote connectivity in digital infrastructure, enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence, and foster new quality productive forces. In order to promote relevant cooperation, China has decided to establish three cooperation centers, i.e. on poverty reduction, on education exchange, and on desertification prevention and control, as well as a cooperation platform on smooth trade under the China-Central Asia cooperation framework. China will provide a grant of RMB 1.5 billion yuan to Central Asian countries this year to be used in livelihood and development projects high on their agenda. China will also provide 3,000 training opportunities to Central Asian countries in the next two years.”
“Third, we should develop a security framework for peace, tranquility and solidarity. We should step up regional security governance, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly prevent and thwart extreme ideologies, and resolutely fight terrorism, separatism and extremism, so as to maintain peace and stability in our region. China supports Central Asian countries in modernizing their national defense, law enforcement and security capacities. We will do our best to help Central Asian countries combat terrorism and transnational organized crime and safeguard cybersecurity and biosecurity. We will launch more Safe City projects, and conduct more joint exercises and joint training cooperation. Afghanistan is our close neighbor. We should strengthen coordination to help the country boost its development capacity and achieve peace, stability, reconstruction and development at an early date.”
“Fourth, we should cement the bonds of shared vision, mutual understanding and mutual affection between our peoples. China will enhance cooperation between legislatures, political parties, women, youth, media and think tanks with Central Asian countries, conduct in-depth exchange of governance experience, and share experience in green development, poverty reduction and anti-corruption. China is ready to set up more cultural centers, university branches and Luban Workshops in Central Asia, and launch new majors in Central Asian languages in Chinese universities. We will continue to carry out effectively the ‘China-Central Asia technology and skills improvement scheme’ to train more high-caliber talent for Central Asian countries. China supports deepening subnational cooperation with Central Asia. We will make good use of sister-city relations and people-to-people exchanges to nurture heart-to-heart connections at central and subnational levels, between official and non-governmental actors, and from adjacent to broader areas. I hope that the travel-facilitation measures we adopt today will be implemented as soon as possible to help our people visit each other more conveniently, efficiently and frequently like relatives, and in the course help them become ever closer to each other.”
“Fifth, we should uphold a fair and equitable international order and an equal and orderly world structure. China supports Central Asian countries in playing a bigger role in international affairs. We stand ready to work with all parties to defend international fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In the strenuous times of war, Chinese and Central Asian peoples supported each other through adversity, and jointly made important contributions to the cause of justice of humanity. We should promote the correct view of history, defend the fruits of the victory of World War II, uphold the UN-centered international system, and provide more stability and certainty for world peace and development.”
Beyond this, Xinhua reports that:
“During the summit, Xi and the heads of state of the Central Asian nations signed the Astana Declaration of the second China-Central Asia Summit, and a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation. The meeting also announced the signing of 12 cooperation agreements regarding the Belt and Road cooperation, facilitation of personnel exchanges, green mining, trade, connectivity, industry and customs. At the summit, China signed multiple sister city agreements with the five Central Asian countries, thus the pairs of sister cities between the two sides have exceeded 100. Xi and other leaders also witnessed the inauguration of three China-Central Asia cooperation centers and a trade platform, namely the China-Central Asia poverty reduction cooperation center, the China-Central Asia education exchange cooperation center, the China-Central Asia desertification prevention and control cooperation center, as well as the China-Central Asia smooth trade cooperation platform. All parties also agreed that China will host the third China-Central Asia Summit in 2027.”
Let’s now look at Xi’s bilateral meetings with the leaders attending the summit. But while we get into each report, here’s a brief snapshot of how Xinhua says each leader talked about Xi. It’s interesting to see how flattering who was:
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that “he was very glad to meet with President Xi”.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called Xi “a distinguished statesman on the world stage”. He added: “No major global issue can be resolved without China's involvement”.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said that “under the outstanding leadership of President Xi, China has strived forward on the path of prosperity and strength, achieving great accomplishments and playing a crucial guiding role on the international stage.”
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said that “China, under the strong leadership of President Xi, has achieved significant economic and social development accomplishments, and played an important role in international affairs.”
First, the report (English report) on Xi’s meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov says:
Xi said that “China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to continuously deepen the alignment of development strategies, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard common and long-term interests of both sides…Xi urged the two sides to deepen financial cooperation, improve connectivity networks and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. He also called on the two sides to foster new drivers of growth in clean energy, green minerals and artificial intelligence, enhance communication in fields such as culture, tourism, education and health, and implement more projects that benefit the people. Noting that China and Kyrgyzstan are both beneficiaries of economic globalisation, he called on the two sides to jointly oppose unilateralism, firmly safeguard the international economic and trade order, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system. Noting that the two sides will successively assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and host summits, Xi said that China is willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to support each other and jointly promote the greater development of the SCO.”
The report adds that Japarov said: “On issues concerning China’s core interests, the Kyrgyz side…firmly supports China's stance, adheres to the one-China principle, opposes all forms of ‘Taiwan independence’, and opposes any interference by external forces in China’s internal affairs…the Kyrgyz side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to do business in Kyrgyzstan, stands ready to work with China to jointly advance such projects as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, strengthen cooperation in energy, green minerals and other fields, and better benefit the peoples of both countries. Japarov said the Kyrgyz side actively supports the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi and is ready to work with China to jointly implement them. Kyrgyzstan will closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the United Nations, the SCO and the China-Central Asia mechanism to promote regional and global security, stability, development and prosperity.”
The two sides signed deals covering agriculture, customs, science and technology, media and other fields.
Second, the report (English report) on Xi’s meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon says:
Xi said that the “two sides should promptly implement them, deliver more practical results, and advance the high-quality construction of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future. Xi emphasized that China is a trustworthy neighbor and partner of Tajikistan and firmly supports Tajikistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security. China and Tajikistan should give full play to the role of the strategic dialogue mechanism between the two countries’ foreign ministers, and coordinate and advance cooperation in various fields, said Xi. The two countries should expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, further speed up the construction of transportation infrastructure projects, and continuously promote connectivity, he said. The role of the Confucius Institutes, Luban Workshop and Center for Traditional Medicine should be fully leveraged, while the ‘Chinese Culture Day’ to be held this autumn in Tajikistan should be well organized, Xi said. He stressed that China and Tajikistan should further strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and step up efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism. The two countries share common interests in safeguarding multilateralism and defending international economic and trade order, Xi said, calling on both sides to enhance coordination and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms including the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism. China supports Tajikistan to play an important role in global climate governance, Xi added.”
No deals mentioned in the report.
Third, the report (English report) on Xi’s meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov says:
“Xi said that China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to further increase the depth, breadth and scale of bilateral cooperation and to advance the building of a China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future. Xi said that both sides should effectively implement the strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road. He urged the two countries to scale up natural gas cooperation, expand cooperation in non-resource fields, optimize trade structure and enhance regional connectivity. On the basis of holding cultural years in each other’s countries, the two sides should organize more people-to-people exchange events, accelerate the establishment of cultural centers in each other's countries and promote people-to-people connectivity, Xi said, calling for stronger cooperation between the two countries in law enforcement, security and defense, joint efforts to combat terrorism, extremism and separatism, and a higher level of cooperation in cybersecurity. Xi noted that China, remaining committed to fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood while adhering to the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, takes high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform to work with neighboring countries, including Turkmenistan, to build a better future. China supports Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization, its successful hosting of the 5th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries, and is glad to see Turkmenistan, as a permanently neutral country, play a greater constructive role in international affairs, said Xi. Xi said China stands ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with Turkmenistan on international and regional issues, jointly defend the multilateral trading system, and safeguard the common interests of the Global South.”
Among other things, Berdimuhamedov reportedly said that “Turkmenistan is willing to comprehensively expand cooperation with China, expand natural gas exports to China, deepen cooperation in non-resource sectors such as machinery manufacturing and textiles, and enhance connectivity.”
Finally, the report (English report) on Xi’s meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev says:
Xi said that “Cooperation between the two countries in various fields has shown a favorable situation of full-scale expansion and vigorous development…China, he added, is willing to work with Uzbekistan to strengthen the synergy of development strategies and exchange of governance experiences, implement more mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation projects, boost the development of both countries, and jointly build a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future that is more substantial and dynamic. Xi emphasized that China and Uzbekistan should expand the scale of bilateral trade and investment, advance the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, foster a multidimensional connectivity framework, and expand practical cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, new energy, smart agriculture and public health. The two sides should actively promote the reciprocal establishment of cultural centers, organize well the second China-Uzbekistan educational forum, continue to strengthen cooperation on poverty alleviation, and promote people-to-people connectivity, Xi added. Xi also stressed the need to further deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, and work together to address new threats and challenges, so as to safeguard regional peace and stability. Xi said the two sides should strengthen collaboration within multilateral platforms, including the China-Central Asia mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to jointly safeguard international equity and justice and uphold the international economic and trade order.”
Mirziyoyev praised Xi as “a distinguished statesman on the world stage”. He added: “No major global issue can be resolved without China's involvement”. He also said:
“The Uzbek side values its friendly relations with China, appreciates China’s long-standing selfless support for Uzbekistan’s economic and social development, and will unwaveringly adhere to the one-China principle, he said. The Uzbek side is willing to strengthen exchanges with China on governance experience, learn from China’s successful practices in poverty alleviation, expand the scale of trade and investment, enhance cooperation with China in such fields as cutting-edge technologies, connectivity, agriculture and green energy, and promote the high-quality development of bilateral relations, Mirziyoyev said. He said Uzbekistan also stands ready to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation with China, with a firm commitment to combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.”
Then in this report, we have Xi’s first public remarks about the Israel-Iran war:
“The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East. Xi said all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation. Xi said China is deeply worried as Israel's military operation against Iran has caused a sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, adding that China opposes any actions that infringe upon sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of other countries. He said military conflicts are not the solution to problems, and the escalation of regional situations is not in the common interests of the international community. Xi said China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.”
The list of all the outcomes from the summit, around 110 deals, the full text of the treaty and the Astana declaration are published on pages 3 and 4, if you are interested.
Page 4: There’s a brief report on ILD chief Liu Jianchao’s meeting with a delegation of the Sri Lankan party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led by its General Secretary Tilvin Silva. Let me break down the full report on the ILD’s website. The report says:
Liu told Silva that “in January this year, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Dissanayake who was visiting China, and drew a grand blueprint for the development of China-Sri Lanka relations. China-Sri Lanka relations are vital to regional stability and development. China has always placed Sri Lanka in an important direction of its neighbouring diplomacy. China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously consolidate strategic mutual trust, strengthen mutual learning in governance, deepen development integration, jointly build a China-Sri Lanka community of shared future, and promote the building of a neighbouring community of shared future. Faced with the turbulent international situation, regional countries should strengthen unity and self-reliance, and jointly respond to risks and challenges. China and Sri Lanka should strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs, jointly defend international fairness and justice and the global economic and trade order, and safeguard the common and long-term interests of both sides.” 刘建超表示，中斯友谊源远流长，《米胶协定》是中斯真诚友好关系的真实写照。建交68年来，双方始终守望相助、团结合作，致力于建设更强有力的中斯关系。今年1月，习近平主席同来华访问的迪萨纳亚克总统会谈，为中斯关系发展擘画了宏伟蓝图。中斯关系对于地区稳定和发展至关重要，中方始终将斯里兰卡置于周边外交重要方向，愿同斯方共同落实好两国元首重要共识，不断巩固战略互信，加强治理互鉴，深化发展融合，共同打造中斯命运共同体，推动构建周边命运共同体。面对变乱交织的国际形势，地区国家应加强联合自强，共同应对风险挑战，中斯应加强在国际和地区事务中的协作，共同捍卫国际公平正义和全球经贸秩序，维护好双方共同和长远利益.
He added that “friendly exchanges between political parties have long promoted the development of China-Sri Lanka relations. The Communist Party of China and the JVP share similar beliefs and ideas, and are willing to promote exchanges at all levels, carry out institutionalised political dialogues, deepen ideological exchanges, learn from each other’s experience in governance, and promote the improvement of their respective governing capabilities. China is willing to rely on the ‘Party +’ platform with Sri Lanka to expand practical cooperation in various fields, implement more people-friendly projects, and let the dividends of the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries better benefit the people of both sides.” 刘建超表示，政党友好交往长期促进了中斯关系发展。中国共产党同人民解放阵线信仰相近、理念相通，愿推进各层级交往，开展机制化政治对话，深化思想交流，相互借鉴治国理政经验，促进各自执政能力提升。中方愿同斯方依托“政党+”平台，拓展各领域务实合作，实施更多惠民项目，让两党两国关系发展红利更好造福双方人民.
Here’s what Silva reportedly said:
Silva said that Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relations with China, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and is grateful to the Chinese side for always providing valuable support in a timely manner during Sri Lanka’s times of difficulty. Sri Lanka admires the series of major achievements China has made on the path of modernisation, and is willing to leverage its own locational advantages in the high-quality joint construction of BRI to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side in areas such as infrastructure, finance, and poverty alleviation, in order to boost Sri Lanka’s economic and social development and the overall development of the region. Sri Lanka appreciates China’s constructive role in regional and international affairs, and is willing to strengthen communication with China on regional affairs to promote regional peace and stability. The JVP is willing to continuously deepen and consolidate the traditional friendship with the Communist Party of China and play a positive role in advancing the China–Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership. 席尔瓦表示，斯方高度重视对华关系，坚定奉行一个中国原则，感谢中方在斯困难之际总是及时给予宝贵支持。斯方钦佩中国在现代化建设道路上取得的一系列重大成就，愿发挥自身在高质量共建“一带一路”中的区位优势，同中方加强基础设施、金融、减贫等领域合作，提振斯经济社会发展和地区整体发展。斯方赞赏中国在地区和国际事务中发挥的建设性作用，愿同中方加强地区事务沟通，促进地区和平稳定。人民解放阵线愿同中国共产党不断深化和巩固传统友谊，为推动中斯战略合作伙伴关系发挥积极作用.
Another report in the paper informs of the opening of the week-long China-Sri Lanka-Maldives Tourism Forum in Colombo. Xinhua reports:
“In her opening address, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya extended heartfelt gratitude to China for its long-standing, valuable support to Sri Lanka in infrastructure, people-to-people exchanges, education, culture, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. She expressed the hope that the forum would deepen regional mutual trust, translate visions into dialogue and dialogue into action, and further promote understanding among the peoples of the three nations. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said that tourism cooperation among China, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives is not merely a simple aggregation, but an elevation through complementary strengths. For the Maldives and Sri Lanka, tourism is a crucial economic pillar and a primary source of foreign exchange income, while for China, deepening cooperation means offering a richer array of choices for Chinese tourists and further strengthening tourism ties under the Belt and Road framework, he said. During the opening ceremony, the ‘joint activities to enhance tourism exchanges and cooperation between China, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives by the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities’ was launched.”
Finally, there’s an announcement that Ding Xuexiang will be traveling to Russia for th 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum from tomorrow.
Page 7: There’s a report informing that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has launched the sixth ‘100-day, 10 million recruitment special action’ campaign. This began via a job fair for college graduates held in Qingdao, Shandong Province on June 17. A total of 240 companies participated in the fair that day, providing more than 4,500 job-related information.