Meanwhile, on Saturday China and five Central Asian countries— Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — met in Almaty to strengthen their trade ties. The meeting was attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is one of the currently-serving members of the Communist Party’s Politburo. Attendees included the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The meetings led to the signing of the most important document yet, a framework agreement between China and its Central Asian neighbours to boost trade.
Those discussions opened as the world faced a new wave of global trade tensions. This was particularly the case because of the U.S. tariffs President Donald Trump imposed. In response to such unilateral protectionist practices, both China and the Central Asian nations expressed a unified stance against these measures. They highlighted how coordination and collaboration as well as collective support drove economic development throughout the whole region.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the meeting had been a “decisive step.” Most critically, it sought to rebuild Egypt’s relations with its Arab neighbors. China, meanwhile, is clearly trying to deepen its connections with Central Asia. This comprehensive strategy seeks to strengthen not only diplomatic ties, but economic links in the Indo-Pacific. First, China is not exclusively focusing on Central Asia. It is of course trying to reinforce its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Wang Yi’s presence at the meeting underscores China’s commitment to collaboration with its neighbors. He took the time to meet with counterparts to discuss their creative trade initiatives and help map out future areas of cooperation. The deal coming out of this meeting should be a win-win for all parties, building greater economic resiliency and stability.
Meanwhile, China is increasingly emphasizing sub-national, or regional, ties. This change, in large part, is a well-calculated move brought about by outside influences, most importantly the United States. By strengthening ties with Central Asian nations, China aims to create a more integrated economic landscape that can withstand global market fluctuations.