China, Central Asia ties grow stronger

Facts and figures

China and the five Central Asian countries have shared fruitful outcomes in various fields of cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago. The following are some key figures:

3,300 kilometers

On the basis of mutual understanding and accommodation, China and Central Asia countries have completely resolved boundary issues left from history, turning more than 3,300 kilometers of shared borders into a bond of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation.

$70 billion

China has been the largest or main trading partner of Central Asian countries for many years. Last year, trade between China and Central Asian countries hit a record of more than $70 billion, a 100-fold increase compared to 30 years ago.

62 pairs

The 62 pairs of sister provinces, regions and cities between China and Central Asia and hundreds of thousands of mutual visits every year help carry forward a friendship lasting more than 2,000 years between the people of China and these countries. China has vowed to bring the number of sister cities with the five countries to 100 pairs in the next five to 10 years.

80 percent

As of the end of 2022, more than 65,000 China-Europe freight trains had transported more than 6 million 20-foot equivalent units of cargo worth $300 billion. Nearly 80 percent of the trips passed through Central Asia.

57.1 million doses

China offered 57.1 million doses of vaccines to help the five countries battle COVID-19.

13 Confucius Institutes

Since 2004, China has established 13 Confucius Institutes and 24 Confucius Classrooms in Central Asia, with over 18,000 students now studying at these learning institutions.

29,885 students

China has become one of the main destinations and preferred countries for students in Central Asian countries to study abroad. From 2010 to 2018, the number of Central Asian students studying in China increased from 11,930 to 29,885.