Economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asia made significant strides in 2025, with the total value of trade in goods reaching 106.3 billion U.S. dollars, marking a 12 percent year-on-year increase, according to a statement released on Sunday by China’s Ministry of Commerce.
The trade volume between China and Central Asia surpassed the 100-billion-U.S.-dollar mark for the first time in history, maintaining positive growth for five consecutive years, the statement noted.
China became the largest trading partner of Central Asian countries last year. Chinese exports to the region totaled 71.2 billion U.S. dollars, up 11 percent year-on-year, driven by strong demand for mechanical and electrical products and high-tech goods. Imports from Central Asia reached 35.1 billion U.S. dollars, a 14 percent increase from the previous year.
The statement highlighted the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce trade, ongoing advancements in warehousing and logistics, and the full rollout of cross-border payment cooperation.
High-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continued to deepen and deliver results. Key projects in connectivity, equipment manufacturing, green minerals, and modern agriculture were accelerated, driving export expansion to Central Asia and supporting industrial upgrading and economic growth in the region.
Looking forward, the Ministry of Commerce said it will continue efforts to optimize trade structure, foster new business models, and promote higher-level institutional arrangements to strengthen bilateral cooperation further.