The event, organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KISS) jointly with the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), brought together leading experts, representatives of government agencies and scientific institutions of the Central Asian countries and China.

State Counselor of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Karin congratulated the participants on the opening of the forum. He emphasized the progressive development of dialogue between China and the Central Asian countries and focused on the upcoming second China - Central Asia summit, which will be held in Astana.

The view of KISS on diplomacy as a bridge to the future

KISS Director Erkin Tukumov described the current moment as "the golden age of diplomacy and international studies." According to him, in the context of the destruction of old paradigms of the international order, diplomacy remains the only sustainable mechanism capable of forming the foundations of long-term interaction.

The speaker noted the growing importance of Asia in both the economic and civilizational dimensions. In this context, cooperation with China is becoming a cornerstone of building an inclusive and interconnected Eurasian space.

Among the priorities, Erkin Tukumov highlighted three important areas: Transformation of the Middle Corridor into a full-fledged economic artery by creating industrial belts, technology parks and agroclusters; Training of technological personnel, joint projects in the fields of AI, biotechnology and quantum computing; Combining efforts in the field of water use and climate adaptation, including the development of "smart" water management systems.

The Director of KISS especially emphasized that the Central Asian-China summit is capable of taking the expert dialogue to a new level. At the same time, the analytical community, according to him, plays a key role in shaping the meanings and approaches to regional integration.

Turkmen view on the principles of strategic architecture

In his speech, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Shiri Shiriev presented Turkmenistan's conceptual approach to the formation of a sustainable architecture of partnership between the countries of Central Asia and China. He outlined three principles that underlie it. These are consistency, openness and common interests.

Systemacy as a transition from initiatives to coordination. The "CA + China" format has outgrown the framework of a political initiative and has transformed into an institutional platform for strategic coordination. Regular summits, ministerial meetings and specialized forums indicate the formation of a sustainable model of interstate cooperation. Particular importance is attached to the development of a common vision in the areas of infrastructure connectivity, cross-border security and the transition to a "green" economy.

Openness as a respect for sovereignty and multi-vector approaches. The key feature of the Chinese approach is the absence of pressure and imposition. Each Central Asian country retains the freedom to formulate its own agenda within the format. This is especially important for the region, which traditionally builds a balanced foreign policy. The "CA + China" format does not exclude other vectors of interaction, but, on the contrary, strengthens them through flexibility, respect and mutual benefit.

Common interests as a basis for long-term benefits. The partnership is strengthened by the coincidence of a number of strategic priorities. These are: synchronization of Chinese projects with national programs, including the concept of "Revival of the Great Silk Road"; cooperation in the transition to "green" energy and agricultural technologies; sustainable development and humanitarian interaction; educational and scientific exchanges, support for cultural dialogue.

In conclusion of his speech, Shiri Shiriev described the format as "an ascending model of regional coordination based on respect, pragmatism and shared responsibility for the future of Eurasia."

...The Fifth Forum of Analytical Centers "Central Asia - China" confirmed the importance of expert interaction as a platform for developing strategic guidelines. Dialogue based on consistency, respect and pragmatism is capable of forming a sustainable and balanced partnership architecture that is in demand in the context of global turbulence.

Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV,

Center for Strategic Studies, IIR of the MFA of Turkmenistan