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Pan Yue (right), the head of China’s State Committee for Nationalities Affairs, and Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture, hold copies of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between their agencies signed on September 18. (Photo: gov.kz)

Xinjiang crackdown downplayed during Chinese nationalities rep’s visit to Kazakhstan

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Sep 22, 2023

A train leaves China’s Zhangjiakou for Uzbekistan’s Tashkent on August 29. In late August, PRC opened two new freight rail routes to Uzbekistan as part of an effort to expand Europe-bound export route options. (Photo: Xinhua)

China mobilizing Central Asia’s support on Taiwan issue

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Sep 8, 2023

The opening ceremony of a representative office of Kyrgyz Post in Kashgar. (Photo: gov.kg)

Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz Post opens representative office in Xinjiang Province

Official say they want to promote e-commerce.

Justin Burke Sep 4, 2023

Kazakhstan unveiled prototypes of four different drone models produced in cooperation with China. (Photo: Ratel.kz)

Central Asia: Could Kazakh-Chinese joint venture export drones to Russia?

Our weekly update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 30, 2023

Turkmenistan remains the largest supplier of pipeline gas to China, but Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also made the top 5. (Photo: Samruk-Kazyna)

Central Asia: Quiet flows the natural gas from Eurasia to China

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 24, 2023

Chinese-made DJI Agras T30 drones. Just over a dozen such drones being shipped by a Kyrgyz company bound for Russia were intercepted by the Kazakh customs. (Photo: YouTube screenshot)

Kyrgyzstan: President pushes back on US accusations of sanctions-busting behavior

Amid denials there is a hint of Kyrgyz willingness to step up export controls.

Justin Burke Aug 16, 2023

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov (center right) and China’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Du Dewen, speak during a recent tour of the Sary-Jaz River where Kyrgyzstan is aiming to build a hydropower project with Chinese assistance. (Photo: gov.kg)

Central Asia: Low water levels on Irtysh River create quandary for Kazakhstan

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 11, 2023

The president of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan pose for a photo at last week's Ashgabat summit. (Photo: Turkmenistan government website)

Turkmenistan: Party of three

Afghanistan's canal project is deepening anxieties on water security. This and more in this week's Akhal-Teke Bulletin.

Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Aug 8, 2023

Chief military prosecutors of China and Uzbekistan meet in Beijing in late July. (Photo: gov.uz)

Central Asia: China strives to shape Belt and Road-related media coverage

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Aug 4, 2023

The visiting PM unveiled a bust of Georgia's most famous poet at Beijing Language and Culture University (Facebook; Georgian government)

"Strategic partnership" between Georgia and China puzzles critics

Despite broad support for seeking closer economic ties with Beijing, pro-Western observers in Georgia are wary of the relationship getting too close.

Nini Gabritchidze Aug 1, 2023

An Uzbek delegation tours a JAC Motors plant during a mid-July visit to China. (Photo: qashqadaryo.uz)

China exploring biotech, scientific and manufacturing possibilities in Central Asia

Our weekly update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jul 27, 2023

Chinese workers in Xinjiang inspect a pipeline arriving from Central Asia. Natural gas accounts for a significant portion of the region’s exports to PRC. (China Daily)

Central Asia: Trade with China registers strong growth during first half of 2023

Uzbek figures differ significantly from Beijing’s data.

Justin Burke Jul 26, 2023

Chinese Culture Minister Hu Heping meets with Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to the PRC, Aktilek Musayeva, July 11. (Photo: mfa.gov.kg)

China looks to expand soft-power presence in Central Asia

Our weekly update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jul 21, 2023

Members of the Kazakh delegation led by Industry Minister Marat Karabaev tour a plant during an early July visit to China. (Photo: gov.kz)

Kazakhstan sets reform agenda for Shanghai Cooperation Organization

A bulletin of recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jul 14, 2023

Chinese security officials show visiting Kyrgyz Interior Ministry representatives unmanned aerial vehicles used by security services in Xinjiang. (Photo: mvd.gov.kg)

Central Asia: China to school Kyrgyz security officers on crackdown tactics

A bulletin of recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jul 7, 2023

Central Asia: Virtual SCO summit lacks focus

A less than convincing show of unity at the summit.

Justin Burke Jul 5, 2023

In his telephone exchange with Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the uprising, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed hope of a return to “order and the rule of law,” but explicitly stated that he sees the events as “an internal affair of Russia.” His Uzbek counterpart limited himself to saying only that he and Putin had talked by phone, while other Central Asian leaders had no comment at all. (Photo: akorda.kz)

Central Asia: Regional leaders strive to limit the fallout of the Prigozhin uprising in Russia

Our weekly update on Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jun 30, 2023

A view of Afghanistan from Tajikistan. China’s “super observation station” in Tajikistan, located near the Afghan border, could be used to keep an eye on Islamic militants operating in Afghanistan. (Photo: Ninara via Flickr, CC BY 2.0, t.ly/-QG5)

Central Asia: China opens “super” monitoring station on Tajik-Afghan border

Our weekly update on recent developments in Chinese-Russian-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jun 23, 2023

On the buses: Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov trying out public transport in Arkadag. (Photo: Turkmenistan state media)

Turkmenistan: Birthday boy

The official opening of Arkadag, a new city willed into existence by the former president, is the crowning feature of a grand personality cult. This and more in this week's Akhal-Teke Bulletin.

Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jun 20, 2023

Li Shulei, head of CPC’s Publicity Department, meets with representatives of Central Asian parliaments and political parties.

Chinese Communist Party ready to share best practices with Central Asian states

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jun 14, 2023

Russian leader Vladimir Putin. (Photo: kremlin.ru)

Central Asia: SCO summit going virtual

An update on recent developments in Chinese-Central Asian affairs.

China-Central Asia Monitor Jun 7, 2023

Turkmen National Leader (not president) Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov meeting in Tehran with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. (Photo: Turkmenistan government website)

Turkmenistan: Plugging the leaks

Ashgabat wants Americans to fix the leaks, Iranians to buy fuel, and China to pay for pipelines. This and more in the latest edition of the Akhal-Teke Bulletin.

Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin Jun 6, 2023