China-Central Asia cooperation boosts SCO development

DUSHANBE, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- During his just-concluded official visits to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and attendance at the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for closer cooperation with the two Central Asian countries and greater development of the SCO.

In recent years, China has deepened practical cooperation with Central Asian countries and injected fresh momentum into development of the SCO by enhancing connectivity, trade and exchanges in various fields. Analysts say these efforts will contribute to common prosperity and high-quality development in the region and beyond.

CONNECTIVITY BRINGS OPPORTUNITY

Enhancing connectivity between China and the landlocked countries of Central Asia is key to promoting development in the region and beyond. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, now under construction, is a prime example of this effort.

In recent years, the railway project has remained high on the agenda of leaders of the countries involved. Most recently, during Li's official visit to Uzbekistan, the two sides pledged to advance the railway's high-quality construction.

The railway, launched at the end of 2024, is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a strategic link between China and Central Asia. The route will begin in Kashgar in northwest China and pass through the mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan to reach Uzbekistan.

High-quality construction and efficient operation of the railway will set a valuable example for countries across the region and beyond, said Kubanychbek Taabaldiev, a professor at Ala-Too International University in Bishkek.

"It has the potential to change the economic geography of Central Asia and transform Kyrgyzstan from a country located between major markets into an important link between China, Central Asia, and further on to European and Middle Eastern destinations," Taabaldiev said.

Beyond railway and road construction, the strengthening of transport cooperation between China and Central Asian countries also encompasses facilitating customs clearance at borders, digitizing transport permits and other efficiency-enhancing measures. Better connectivity has created new development opportunities for the region, boosting trade and exchanges in various fields.

Ulugbek Shermatov, chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defence and Security of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, noted that the creation of new transport arteries "not only expands economic opportunities, but also forms a solid material foundation for long-term interdependence and peaceful cooperation in the region."

This demonstrates China's commitment to developing friendly relations with neighboring states and promoting Belt and Road cooperation, Shermatov said.

PRACTICAL COOPERATION BEARS FRUIT

From trade and agriculture to cutting-edge technological innovation, practical cooperation between China and Central Asia has been a driving force behind regional growth and, more broadly, the development of the SCO as a whole.

Trade figures speak to the robust momentum in cooperation. China's trade with five Central Asian countries topped 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, hitting a record high. Meanwhile, trade structure continues to improve, with more Central Asian products entering the Chinese market.

"Stability in the region is inextricably linked with trade and economic development. The growth of the total trade turnover of Central Asian countries with China ... clearly demonstrates China's importance in ensuring stability in our region," said Shermatov.

Building on traditional merchandise trade, both sides are further expanding cooperation in digital trade, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, as well as scientific and technological innovation.

Take energy cooperation as an example. Cooperation has gradually expanded from traditional oil and gas to clean energy and related technologies.

At the Second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan last year, China and the five Central Asian nations pledged to support the establishment of a China-Central Asia energy development partnership to expand cooperation across the entire energy industry chains.

The countries also affirmed their commitment to promoting technological and talent exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the management and development of desertified and saline-alkali lands.

"China possesses rich technical expertise in renewable energy, electric mobility, digital infrastructure, telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI) and industrial automation," said Mukhtor Umarov, chairman of the Economic Assembly of Uzbekistan.

At the broader SCO level, the establishment and development of cooperation platforms between China and other SCO members in emerging fields "have opened new avenues for countries in the region -- shifting the focus from simply purchasing equipment toward technology localization, joint R&D, engineer cultivation and the buildout of new production capacities," Umarov said.

SCO DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHENED

Leaders of China and Central Asian nations, together with their SCO colleagues, reaffirmed stronger cooperation within the SCO framework at the just-concluded 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of Member States of the SCO in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe.

China's coordination with Central Asia will help promote the high-quality development of the SCO by strengthening the foundation for regional security, expanding economic cooperation and connectivity, and cementing mutual trust among member states.

These efforts will further enhance the SCO's role in safeguarding regional security, promoting common development and improving global governance, experts said.

"In my view, the most prominent feature of China's current contribution to the development of the SCO lies in its tight integration of strategic concepts, multilateral rules and concrete development tools," said Uzbek expert Umarov.

"Against the backdrop of intensifying geoeconomic fragmentation, increasing trade restrictions, and chronic shortages of long-term financing, SCO member states urgently need predictable rules and institutions to mitigate risks faced by enterprises," he said.

China has been a key contributor to the SCO's evolution. At the Tianjin Summit last year, a milestone in the SCO's development, China and other member states jointly formulated a development strategy for the organization for the next decade and action plans to promote high-quality development.

Since the Tianjin Summit, a number of cooperation platforms have been launched, covering green industry, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, energy, education and AI.

At the Bishkek Summit earlier this year, China brought more initiatives and projects supporting the SCO's development, including the establishment of a China-SCO port economic cooperation center in Tianjin, the launch of an international AI application cooperation center, and the training of more green industry professionals.

The SCO's international significance is "determined not only by its geographical reach or the combined potential of its member states, but also by its ability to translate political agreements into functioning mechanisms for security, economic cooperation, and diplomatic coordination," said Guzel Maitdinova, director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies at the Russian-Tajik (Slavonic) University.

"Looking ahead, linking SCO economic initiatives with national development strategies, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and the programs of international financial institutions could play a particularly important role," Maitdinova added.

Shermatov, meanwhile, offered an Uzbek perspective: "This is precisely how we see the responsibility of China and Uzbekistan for the future of the SCO -- to preserve the Shanghai Spirit while simultaneously adapting the organization to new global realities."