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China’s Belt and Road Recalibration: Why Kazakhstan is the New Metals Frontier

Despite widespread expectations that China’s engagement with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries would slow, recent data tells a different story. According to a new report from the Griffith Asia Institute, Chinese involvement in the 150 BRI countries surged in the first half of 2025, reaching ...

How China is Challenging Russia’s Nuclear Dominance in Central Asia Through Kazakhstan

Having reshaped Central Asia’s oil and gas infrastructure and challenged Russia’s long-standing dominance of the region’s traditional energy sector, China is now setting its sights on nuclear power as the next frontier.  This next step is not just about energy diversification. ...

Q&A: Behind Xi’s “Eternal Friendship” Pitch in Central Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Astana this week for the second China–Central Asia Summit, meeting with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. At the summit, Xi emphasized China’s “eternal friendship” with the region and rolled out a slate of new initiatives, including cooperation ...

Xi’s Central Asia Trip Responds to Global Pressures

China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan on Monday for the China-Central Asia Summit, aimed at strengthening Beijing’s ties in the region. The summit will bring Xi together with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The outreach comes ...

China’s Xi in Kazakhstan for Central Asia Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Monday to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit. State news agency Xinhua reported at around 12:30 pm Kazakh time (0730 GMT) that the Chinese leader had touched down in the capital Astana.

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Plugging into African Agency

After several years of declining funding, the African end of the Belt and Road Initiative seems to be roaring back. The newest Griffith University/Green Development Finance Center data on the Belt and Road Initiative shows that engagement with Africa jumped by 395%, while a few big projects boosted engagement in Nigeria alone more than twelvefold.
These shifts indicate a window of opportunity for African electrification. 60% of Africans still ...

India to Work with Central Asian Countries on Rare Earths

India has reportedly reached a collaboration agreement with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan for the exploration and development of rare earth minerals. The agreement, which was finalized at the recent India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, follows recent reports that ...

Kazakhstan to Dredge Port for Key China-EU Trade Route

Kazakhstan will start dredging part of the Caspian Sea around its main port to increase capacity for a crucial transport route linking Asia and Europe, a spokesperson told AFP on Monday. The Trans-Caspian trade route, also known as the "Middle Corridor", ...

Kazakhstan to Dredge Port for Key China-EU Trade Route

Kazakhstan will start dredging part of the Caspian Sea around its main port to increase capacity for a crucial transport route linking Asia and Europe, a spokesperson told AFP on Monday. The Trans-Caspian trade route, also known as the "Middle Corridor", ...

China’s Eurasian Detour: Bypassing Russia, Dodging U.S. Sea Power

A once-overlooked trade route across the Eurasian landmass is now a key strategic priority for China in this new era of global uncertainty. The Middle Corridor—a multimodal network stretching from China’s western border through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, and into Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye—has ...

China’s Eurasian Detour: Bypassing Russia, Dodging U.S. Sea Power

A once-overlooked trade route across the Eurasian landmass is now a key strategic priority for China in this new era of global uncertainty. The Middle Corridor—a multimodal network stretching from China’s western border through Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, and into Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye—has ...

The New Great Game: China and the West Vie for Influence in Central Asia

Central Asia is one of those regions that isn't getting a lot of attention these days, as it's not a major player in the escalating U.S.-China trade war. But that may soon change as both major powers look to the region ...

WEEK IN REVIEW: CATL Matches BYD’s Fast-Charging Breakthrough

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Kazakhstan on Friday for the Sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The visit will also include a strategic dialogue with his Kazakh counterpart. From there, he will move on to the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brazil on Monday. (CHINESE ...
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