Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a visit to Kazakhstan to engage with Central Asian leaders, strategically countering an ongoing Group of Seven summit in Canada. This marks only Xi’s third international trip this year, highlighting the significance of his discussions with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and other regional leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The summit in Astana parallels the G-7 meeting and follows a recent engagement between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kazakhstan’s foreign minister in Washington. Xi previously hosted the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an two years ago, reinforcing China’s commitment to the region.
One of Xi’s primary goals in Kazakhstan is to “future-proof” China’s economy amid potential tensions with the United States, as noted by Kate Mallinson, a partner at PRISM Strategic Intelligence Ltd. in London. “China has emerged from the last three years significantly stronger in Central Asia,” she observes, attributing this to the West’s attempts to economically isolate Russia and China’s efforts to safeguard its supply chains against future confrontations.
Xi’s discussions may address the repercussions of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as he seeks to solidify alliances in a region where competition for resources and influence has intensified. This significance is underscored by recent visits from European leaders like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The region, rich in uranium, oil, and rare earth metals, is crucial for China, providing vital overland routes for exporting goods to Europe. Russia’s waning influence-especially following the ongoing conflict in Ukraine-has allowed China to intensify its economic engagement with Central Asia, a region boasting a GDP of approximately $500 billion.
Xi’s current visit is his third to Kazakhstan since 2020, making the country a key destination as he resumes international travel post-Covid. Tokayev, fluent in Mandarin and with diplomatic experience in China, aims to attract $150 billion in investment by 2029, which may hinge increasingly on Chinese involvement due to Russia’s receding role in the area. China has already pledged $26 billion in investments, solidifying its position among the top foreign investors in Kazakhstan.
Notably, during the Second Central Asia — China Industrial and Investment Cooperation Forum, Kazakh and Chinese firms finalized $24 billion in deals, emphasizing the growing economic ties. Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party’s diplomatic arm, articulated the mutual benefits, stating that “China’s development needs a thriving Central Asia,” inviting regional nations to benefit from China’s growth.
In its efforts to challenge the U.S.-led global order, China has been actively enhancing ties with the Global South, participating in summits with countries from Latin America and Africa. Furthermore, China has rallied support through alternative groupings to the G-7, including the BRICS nations, which include Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Chinese investments have surged, with bilateral trade significantly increasing as Kazakhstan emerges as China’s largest trading partner in the region, surpassing Russia. Key projects, such as an aluminum smelter with an annual production capacity of one million tons, are on the agenda, with Chinese firms looking to further expand their market share in Central Asia.
As China and Kazakhstan navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape, the partnership is not just strategic but also essential for job creation and economic vitality in the region, with Kazakhstan reporting a partnership portfolio of 224 projects valued at roughly $66.5 billion.
This comprehensive engagement underlines the dynamic interplay between global powers in Central Asia, where resource-rich lands hold the key to future economic stability and political influence.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/xi-pushes-to-deepen-central-asia-influence-with-kazakh-visit-11750066323814.html
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Publish Date: 2025-06-16 15:02:00
