China, Central Asian countries agree better connectivity by land, flights

China - Central Asia Summit held in Kazakhstan's Astana

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pose for a picture at the China - Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. Sultan Dosaliev/Kyrgyz Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

Source: REUTERS

China and Central Asian countries are willing to improve road and railway connectivity, and will look to open more direct flights to and from China as they agreed to enhance exchanges, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

China will look at simplifying visa procedures with the five Central Asian countries while all parties will study the feasibility of opening consular offices, it added.

China, together with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, will also accelerate the modernisation of existing port facilities and look at the need for new ports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping signed on Tuesday a treaty to elevate ties with Central Asian nations as Beijing looks to further deepen cooperation on trade, energy and infrastructure with the resource-rich region.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters