Chinese investment in Eurasia is growing significantly amid a general decline in global investment activity over the past decade, according to the Eurasian Development Bank's annual report released on Thursday.

The Eurasian Development Bank, headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was founded in 2006 at the initiative of Russia and Kazakhstan. Its purpose is to facilitate major investment projects in its member countries, currently including Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The bank has been monitoring mutual investments in the region since 2016. Over the past decade, China's investment has surged by 80 percent, reaching a record 66 billion U.S. dollars by the end of the first half of 2025.

The report also indicates that Chinese investment has increased by 13 percent, or nearly 7.5 billion U.S. dollars, over the past 18 months.

Chinese investment in industry and energy is growing, demonstrating the maturity of Chinese business and its willingness to transfer its technologies, according to the bank's executives.

"Previously, Chinese companies sought to acquire existing production facilities or deposits and upgrade them, a practice known as brownfield investments. Now, however, they are increasingly making greenfield investments, building factories and establishing production capacities from the ground up. This trend also reflects the maturity and development of their own technological foundation. In Uzbekistan, their share has increased. While Kazakhstan remains the largest recipient of Chinese investment, attracting over 11 billion U.S. dollars, Uzbekistan has also received more than 10 billion U.S. dollars," said Evgeny Vinokurov, Vice Chairman and Chief Economist at the Eurasian Development Bank.

"We probably can't do without Chinese companies, especially in our region, and indeed anywhere in the world. They're highly active and make substantial investments. And in virtually all Central Asian countries, including Belarus, Chinese companies are significantly involved. What projects are these? They span the petrochemical sector, transportation and energy," said Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Eurasian Development Bank.

The bank predicts further growth in Chinese investment in Central Asia, given the region's economic potential and proximity to China.