- China is expanding its influence in Central Asia through education, economy, security, and culture, aiming to boost its soft power and strategic presence in the region.
- Educational initiatives and scholarships attract students and officials from Central Asia, while cultural diplomacy and exchanges strengthen Beijing’s regional appeal.
- Economic investments and security cooperation, including SCO drills and major projects in energy and agriculture, solidify China’s role as a key partner in Central Asia.
China is increasingly penetrating Central Asia through education, economy, security, as well as cultural expansion. This is part of China’s strategy to increase Chinese soft power in Central Asia. China is increasingly taking an active role in shaping Central Asia’s future through promoting education exchanges, pursuing scholarship opportunities in China, cultural development, as well as an increased focus on building economic relationships between China and states in Central Asia.
China has introduced several educational initiatives targeting students and officials from the states in the region. Scholarship initiatives in Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan for the 2026-27 intake have been announced, helping students study in Chinese universities. The ‘Youth of Excellence Program’, widely advertised through Chinese consular services in the states, provides an opportunity for mid-level officials and businessmen in their states to further their studies in China.
The increasing interest in China for higher education was reinforced by the delegation visit from the Tajik State University of Commerce to Xi’an University of Technology. More Chinese students can be seen in Kazakhstan, as indicated by the proportion of Chinese students at 3,367 out of a total of 35,075 foreign students in the country.
The influence of Beijing also spans the security arena through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In December 2025, SCO nations, including China and Russia, among Central Asian nations, engaged in joint military and anti-terrorism drills hosted by Iran. Analysis indicates these drills remain low-level but show growth within the security relations of China.
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Economically, the presence of China is growing all over the region. At the Tianshan Forum for Central Asia Economic Cooperation in the city of Urumchi, the establishment of the Central Asia Regional Financial Cooperation Research Center was announced, the goal of which is the promotion of economic integration within the region.
In Kazakhstan, the investment of China is gradually making its presence felt, for example, with Xinjiang Lihua's 111 million dollars agro-complex of cotton production and KazMunaiGas' 50% share of a Sinopec joint venture. Air China, a direct flight from Almaty and Chengdu, has strengthened economic ties between the two countries. Uzbekistan enhances its economic relationship with China, ranging from over 30 energy projects worth 9 billion dollars, and even adapting the IT and AI industry of China.
In Kyrgyzstan, although economic engagement is on the rise, there are still guarded attitudes in society against China. They are addressing the anti-Chinese attitudes, negotiating increased access to their agricultural exports, as well as building greater trust with Chinese businessmen. Cultural diplomacy has also become important in this region, as evidenced by the 'Days of Culture' in Tajikistan and infrastructure projects related to gas field development in Turkmenistan. Therefore, by applying such a multi-faceted policy, China has positioned itself as an “essential” partner in Central Asia.
