BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 24. China and Central
Asian countries are discussing economic cooperation and development
strategies at a seminar in Beijing.
This was announced by the press service of the Government of
Turkmenistan in a report published on June 24.
"The seminar aims to strengthen inter-parliamentary ties between
Central Asian countries and China, exchange views on legislative
systems, discuss key issues of interregional cooperation,
coordinate development strategies and promote mutually beneficial
and inclusive economic cooperation in line with current global
economic trends," the report says.
According to the report, the seminar, titled "Enhancing the Role
of Legislative Bodies and Strengthening China-Central Asia
Cooperation," is being held in Beijing from June 22 through 28 and
is organized by the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress of China for lawmakers from Central Asian countries.
Representatives of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan are among the
participants attending the event, the report says.
Speaking at the seminar, a representative of the Turkmen
parliament noted that strategic cooperation between Turkmenistan
and China continues to develop steadily on the basis of mutual
respect, trust and equality.
The representative also emphasized that regional meetings,
forums and seminars serve as an important platform for discussing
practical areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening
inter-parliamentary relations and developing new approaches to
cooperation between Central Asia and China.
According to the report, participants highlighted the growing
role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting peace, stability and
effective regional cooperation.
The seminar provides broad opportunities for further exchanges
of legislative and parliamentary experience among participating
countries, the report says.
To note, relations between China and the five Central Asian
countries have expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by the
Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure investment, energy
cooperation and growing trade links. The institutional framework
received a major boost with the launch of the China-Central Asia
mechanism and the first China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an in
2023. Cooperation currently spans transport corridors, logistics,
energy, industrial development, agriculture, digital connectivity
and investment.
Economic ties have reached record levels. According to China's
Ministry of Commerce, trade between China and Central Asia rose to
$106.3 billion in 2025, exceeding the $100 billion mark for the
first time in history and increasing by 12% year-on-year. China
also became the largest trading partner of the Central Asian region
for the first time. Chinese exports to Central Asia totaled $71.2
billion, while imports from the region reached $35.1 billion.
Beyond trade, cooperation is increasingly focused on long-term
strategic projects. China has become a major investor in regional
transport infrastructure, energy facilities, manufacturing, mining
and logistics hubs, while Central Asian countries are seeking to
attract additional Chinese investment to support industrialization,
connectivity and export diversification.
