When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Category: Central Asia
China-Central Asia Weekly News: New Seaport Development, BYD Battery Localization in Uzbekistan, and Healthcare Cooperation
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in 2026. Chinese engagement with Central Asia is advancing through a combination of transport infrastructure development, automotive industry expansion, and medical ...
Taliban Announces Arrests Following Attack on Chinese Nationals in Tajikistan
Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced that two suspects have been arrested in connection with an attack on China Road and Bridge Corporation personnel on 30 November. Two people were killed, and two were injured in the attack. Authorities in Tajikistan reportedly ...
Backgrounder: A Chinese Security Crisis on the Afghan-Tajik Border?
A total of five Chinese workers have been killed and a further five injured in successive attacks on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The Chinese embassy in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe advised Chinese nationals and firms to leave the area.
Tajikistan Says Two Chinese Citizens Killed in Latest Attacks on Afghan Border
Tajikistan on Monday said two more Chinese citizens died in new attacks on the border with Afghanistan last week, as it urged Kabul to ensure security in the region. The former Soviet republic shares a lengthy mountainous border with Afghanistan and ...
Three Chinese Citizens Killed in Tajik-Afghan Border Clash
Three Chinese workers in Tajikistan were killed in an attack launched from Afghanistan near the border, Tajik authorities said Thursday. Tajikistan has strained relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan and several border clashes have broken out in recent months.
China-Central Asia Weekly News: Managing Friction, Sanctions, and Local Benefits
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in 2026. Chinese engagement in Central Asia is facing several friction points that highlight the social and geopolitical complexities behind its ...
Kyrgyzstan Arrests Chinese CEO of Gold Mining Firm
Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday it had arrested the Chinese CEO of a gold mining firm accused of causing "large-scale" environmental damage, amid growing public scrutiny over Beijing's influence in the Central Asian country. China has poured hundreds of millions of dollars of ...
An Exhibition of ‘Civilizations’ in Beijing, and the Narrative China Is Quietly Writing
By Felix Brender 王哲謙 The Where Civilizations Meet exhibition at Beijing’s National Museum of China drew to a close this month. Showcasing artifacts from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it was, at least on the surface, a celebration ...
China’s Shadow Looms Over Trump’s Summit With Central Asian Leaders
U.S. President Donald Trump will host all five Central Asian leaders in Washington on Thursday, marking the first time they have been gathered together. This comes just a few months after they held separate summits with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China-Central Asia Weekly News: Multi-Sector Integration and Strategic Depth
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in 2026. China's engagement with Central Asia is shifting toward a more comprehensive economic integration model that combines traditional infrastructure development ...
China Deepens Mining Ties in Tajikistan to Secure Critical Minerals
By Bruno Kalouaz In a labyrinth of tunnels running beneath 4,000-meter peaks, Tajik miners are scrabbling to secure antimony, one of the metals at the centre of a worldwide race for rare minerals. The silver ...
Beijing’s Golden Gambit: China’s Strategic Push into Central Asian Gold Markets
China’s footprint in Central Asia’s mineral wealth is deepening, with gold emerging as a strategic priority alongside critical minerals. While Beijing’s investments in copper, lithium, and rare earths are widely viewed as essential to sustaining its industrial base, its push ...
China-Central Asia Weekly News: Building Skills and Local Capacity
This is a free preview of the upcoming China-Central Asia Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in 2026. China's engagement with Central Asia is entering a new phase that extends far beyond the traditional Belt and ...