President Xi Jinping called for stronger regional unity and 'high-quality cooperation' during his keynote speech at the Second China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. With trade between China and Central Asia surging 35% since 2023, the leader outlined ambitious plans blending economic muscle with cultural connection 🚂💡.
From Pomegranate Trees to Power Projects
Xi highlighted symbolic six-nation pomegranate trees planted during the first summit as metaphors for growing partnerships. Concrete achievements include:
⚡️ New China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction
📱 Booming cross-border e-commerce and AI collaborations
🎬 Chinese TV dramas like To the Wonder going viral in Central Asia
🌾 Central Asian honey and fruits flooding Chinese markets
Five-Point Plan for the Future
The speech unveiled:
A new 'eternal friendship' treaty between the six nations
1.5 billion yuan ($207M) grant for regional development projects
3,000 professional training slots for Central Asians
Expanded visa-free travel programs
Joint cybersecurity and anti-terrorism initiatives
'Our cooperation isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about building bridges between cultures,' Xi emphasized, noting 100 new sister-city partnerships.
Youth Focus: TikTok Diplomacy?
With plans for more university branches and cultural centers, the strategy clearly targets young audiences. Over 1.2 million China-Kazakhstan trips occurred in 2024 alone after visa reforms—hinting at future backpacker routes 🎒✈️.
