French media: China strengthens cooperation with Central Asian countries
Another article in "Les Echos" focuses on the relationship between China and Central Asia, stating that leaders of Central Asian countries will also attend the SCO summit.
"Les Echos" cited Xinhua data stating that in 2024, the total trade volume between China and the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (in a broad sense) reached 890 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for nearly 15% of China's total foreign trade. According to data from "Global Times", the trade volume in this region increased by 3% in the first half of 2025, with an 8.5% year-on-year increase in July, reflecting active trade in the region despite the uncertain prospects of Sino-U.S. trade negotiations.
However, "Les Echos" stated that if looking only at the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan), the total trade volume with China is still far lower than that with Southeast Asian countries. In 2024, the trade volume between the five Central Asian countries and China was 94 billion U.S. dollars, which is only one-tenth of the trade volume between China and the ten ASEAN countries (982 billion U.S. dollars). Moreover, the internal trade structure in Central Asia is also very unbalanced, with Kazakhstan alone accounting for nearly half of the share. China exports electric vehicles, consumer goods to Central Asia, or builds local stadiums, highways, and airports. Central Asia is increasingly becoming a key source of minerals and rare earth resources for China. These resources are crucial for battery manufacturing, and China is currently leading globally in the battery industry.
Therefore, this summit is undoubtedly a rare opportunity for China.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841938501001609/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.