Central Asia in China

Central Asia in China is a project focused on the Chinese media and how they deliver the news and events concerning Central Asia to their domestic audience. This monitoring project offers a weekly bulletin of the most notable topics discussed by the Chinese media covering Central Asian domestic and regional politics, economy, and security, as well as the BRI-related projects and activities in the region.

Aral Sea discussed at UN Water Conference; Northwest China’s Dingxi launches first freight train service to Kostanay, Kazakhstan; Telephone conversation between President of Kazakhstan and Amir of Qatar. /25.03.23

_{Image source: The Paper}

This past week, Chinese news media reported on Uzbekistan’s participation in the UN Water Conference and the latest situation with the Aral Sea, the first freight train service from Northwest China’s Dingxi heading to Kostanay, Kazakhstan, and the telephone conversation between the President of Kazakhstan and Amir of Qatar.

: 24 March 2023

President Tokayev receives China’s Ambassador, may visit China twice in 2023; Another 5km of Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan border gets delineated; Kyrgyzstan to buy another 1500 buses from China. /17.03.23

_{Image source: MFA of China}

This past week, Chinese media reported on the Kazakhstani president’s upcoming two visits to China in 2023, a meeting between President Tokayev and Chinese ambassador Zhang Xiao, the newly adopted law on “the ratification of the agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the demarcation of the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border”, and the discussions between Kyrgyz Cabinet and Chinese delegation to purchase 1.5 thousand buses from China.

: 17 March 2023

Uzbek and Kazakh Leaders hold an informal meeting; Kazakhstan’s S&P Rating improves from Negative to Stable; Marion Biotech's cough syrup kills 19 in Uzbekistan, prompting 3 arrests in India; Yutong to export 800 buses to Uzbekistan. /10.03.23

_{Image source: Yutong}

This week, Chinese media reported on Kyrgyzstan's parliament's willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China's top legislatures, plans for an informal meeting between Uzbekistan’s and Kazakhstan’s leaders, an increase in Kazakhstan's sovereign credit rating, the arrest of three biotech company employees linked to deaths in Uzbekistan, and the export of 800 China-made buses to Uzbekistan.

: 10 March 2023

More road ports in China’s Xinjiang resume passenger clearance; Uzbekistan and Egypt to strengthen comprehensive cooperation; Uzbekistan plans to generate 4.3 GW of wind and solar capacity in 2023. /24.02.23

_{Image source: President's website - Uzbekistan}

This week, Chinese media reported on the resumption of passenger clearance at Xinjiang's road ports, Uzbekistan's goal to add 4.3 GW of wind and solar power by 2023, and contracts and agreements inked between Uzbekistan and Egypt.

: 24 February 2023

Senior CPC official meets Uzbek acting FM; The China + Central Asia (C+C5) industry and investment cooperation forum opens in China; Afghanistan’s central bank to auction US$ 17 mil. to stabilize local currency. /17.02.23

_{Image source: MFA China}

This week, Chinese media reported on a brief meeting between Uzbekistan’s acting foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Wang Yi en route to Europe for a visit, the China + Central Asia (C+C5) industry and investment cooperation forum, and the announcement of Afghanistan’s central bank to auction 17 mln more USD to stabilize the local currency.

: 17 February 2023

EAEU Council meet in Almaty; Confucius Institute in Kazakhstan holds a “Chinese Spring Festival Quiz” competition; Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reaches US$ 50 Bln. in 2022. /10.02.23

_{Image source: Primeminister.kz}

This week, Chinese media reported on the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, the competition of the “Chinese Spring Festival Quiz” held at Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade statistics, and Kazakhstan’s humanitarian aid to Türkiye.

: 10 February 2023

Kazakh President dissolves Parliament; ECO countries eye further cooperation in Energy; Uzbekistan’s 5.7% economic growth in 2022; Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. /28.01.23

_{Image source: Xinhua}

This week, Chinese media covered the dissolution of Kazakhstan's lower house of parliament and the early election scheduled for March 19, the 26th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Ministers (COM) in Tashkent, the increase in Uzbekistan's GDP in 2022, and the establishment of an Uzbek-Kyrgyz comprehensive strategic partnership.

: 28 January 2023

Uzbekistan and Singapore sign agreements worth $5 billion; Chinese FM, Uzbek acting FM hold phone talks on ties; Uzbekistan to build 250 micro hydropower plants. /21.01.23

_{Image source: UZ Report}

This week, Chinese news outlets covered Uzbekistan-Singapore economic cooperation agreements worth nearly $5 billion, a phone conversation between Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and Uzbekistan's plan to build 250 micro hydropower plants.

: 21 January 2023

CCASC

Central Asia in China