China-Central Asia cooperation shows robust momentum: spokesman

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asia has demonstrated robust momentum in 2025, with the trade volume exceeding the 100-billion-U.S.-dollar mark for the first time in history, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

The total value of trade in goods between China and Central Asian countries reached 106.3 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 12 percent, according to a statement published on the Ministry of Commerce's website on Sunday.

"As global economic growth remains sluggish and the international trading system faces serious challenges, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries has withstood external headwinds, and the trade volume surpassed 100 billion U.S. dollars. This demonstrates the robust momentum of China-Central Asia cooperation and the leading role of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and has become a new milestone in China-Central Asia cooperation," said Guo.

"Over the past year, the relations between China and Central Asian countries have enjoyed fast growth, the China-Central Asia mechanism has been strengthened, Belt and Road cooperation has made steady progress, and friendly exchanges have brought people closer. In particular, the success of the Second China-Central Asia Summit ushered in a new phase of high-quality cooperation between the two sides. At the new historic starting point, China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries to build on the momentum, continue carrying forward the China-Central Asia spirit, strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, promote innovation-led, high-quality and results-oriented cooperation in various fields, and jointly build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future," said the spokesman.