Kazakhstan has called for stronger civil aviation cooperation with China and Central Asian countries to expand regional air connectivity, increase passenger traffic and strengthen economic ties.

The proposal was discussed at the third meeting of the Central Asia-China Civil Aviation Cooperation Working Group (C5+1), held in Tashkent, Qazinform News Agency reports.

The Kazakh delegation was led by Saltanat Tompiyeva, Chairperson of the Civil Aviation Committee under the Ministry of Transport.

Representatives of aviation authorities from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the meeting. Discussions focused on improving regional flight connections, implementing existing agreements and identifying new areas for cooperation.

During the conference, Tompiyeva highlighted the rapid expansion of Kazakhstan’s aviation network. Over the past five years, the number of international flight routes operated by the country has increased from 32 to 161.

Kazakh airlines transported 12.4 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026, up 4.1% compared with the same period last year. Cargo handling at the country's airports also increased by 10%, reaching 136,500 tons.

Tompiyeva also outlined Kazakhstan’s efforts to strengthen aviation safety, improve professional training and develop a long-term strategy for the sector.

In cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Kazakhstan is currently preparing a master plan for the development of its aviation industry through 2050.

The Kazakh delegation stressed that closer regional cooperation would help strengthen trade, business and cultural ties between Central Asia and China.

Bilateral meetings with representatives of the aviation authorities of Uzbekistan and China are also scheduled on the sidelines of the conference.