China has been stepping up engagement with five Central Asian nations as the Russia-Ukraine war drags on. Meanwhile there are expectations that these countries may reconsider their bilateral ties with Moscow.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi attended the third China+Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on June 8. The C5 are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The ministers reached a ten-point consensus on cooperation in areas ranging from the Belt and Road projects, regional transport connectivity, Afghanistan security, economy, and trade investments.
Wang also met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ahead of the summit, during which he called on Central Asian nations to avoid getting into “major power conflicts” or being forced to choose sides….