China-Central Asia Trade Jumps with New Rail Deals

China’s trade with Central Asian nations surged during the first 10 months of 2025, with Kyrgyzstan seeing the largest jump - from $17.4 billion to $23.6 billion.

Remarkably, trade with China alone exceeded Kyrgyzstan’s GDP for the same period, highlighting the scale of cross-border commerce, including unregistered goods, The Caspian Post reports via foreign media.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan also saw trade increases, while Turkmenistan’s trade declined slightly but maintained a positive balance with China.

Regional cooperation is advancing beyond trade. China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Türkiye agreed to streamline rail transit along the southern Middle Corridor, cutting costs, reducing travel times, and upgrading infrastructure. The Eurasian Transport Route Association convened its inaugural meeting in Baku, with shipments now running from Kashgar, China, to Azerbaijan.

In Kazakhstan, a new $300 million seaport will be built in Aktau in partnership with China’s Zhongyun International. The Khorgos dry port is also set for expansion, with round-the-clock operations planned. China’s embassy hosted a UN Women seminar to promote gender equality, while regional delegations signed strategic cooperation memoranda in agriculture, wind energy, and manufacturing.

Kyrgyzstan has faced rising anti-Chinese sentiment following a construction worker brawl, though officials stress the infrastructure projects will benefit the country. Uzbekistan is expanding ties with China in public security and space technology, including a 2026 satellite launch and a cargo flight connecting Wenzhou to Tashkent. Chinese tourism in Uzbekistan soared to nearly 218,000 visitors during the first 10 months of 2025, up from 58,000 in 2024.

Turkmenistan ratified the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness with China and other Central Asian states, reinforcing multilateral cooperation. Overall, China’s economic, technological, and transport links across Central Asia continue deepening, reshaping the region’s trade and infrastructure landscape.