China Accelerates Its Economic Push Across Central Asia
Uzbekistan, one of Central Asia’s economic drivers, is experiencing a significant expansion of Chinese economic influence. Bilateral trade during the first half of 2026 grew to $7.7 billion, according to official Uzbek government data, making China by far Uzbekistan’s largest trade partner. Beijing’s official statistics, meanwhile, put the number even higher – at $8.9 billion. Russia,…
China's economic influence in Central Asia is rapidly expanding, with Uzbekistan being a prime example. In just the first half of 2026 alone, Chinese trade with Uzbekistan surged to $7.7 billion, according to official Uzbek government figures, surpassing Russia's $5.8 billion. The number of Chinese-Uzbek joint ventures, and wholly owned Chinese companies, has grown to 6,060, with many in key sectors like mining, industrial production and energy.
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan in H1 2026 reached 223,479, a significant jump from 74,300 the previous year. This tourism boom is likely to further bolster economic ties. Kazakhstan and China are also deepening financial integration, with plans to connect their payment systems and expand digital financial technologies.
Kazakhstan's agricultural exports, particularly flax seed, have reached a record high, driven by strong demand from China. Kyrgyzstan is set to benefit from free premium-class Chinese-made automobiles at the upcoming SCO summit. Tajikistan's trade with China has grown by roughly half to $1.78 billion, solidifying China's status as Tajikistan's largest trade partner.
Tajikistan is also seeking to diversify its fuel suppliers, negotiating with China for imports of gasoline and diesel. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan has contracted a Chinese firm to service its gas turbines, signaling closer economic ties.
Written by urgent.news from OilPrice's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
