Central Asia on the Rise – China’s Record Belt and Road Investments in 2025

China is still dedicated to cooperating with all stakeholders to advance real advancements in the excellent cooperative building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for mutual growth and a prosperous future. This was stated on Tuesday by Guo Jiakun, an official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
The diplomat provided the statement in response to a request for comments on a recent report concerning the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a daily press briefing, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency. The report revealed that the value of BRI projects implemented in the first six months of this year surpassed the total for all of 2024, reaching a record high. The United States has implemented high tariffs on trade partners worldwide, in stark contrast to China's expanding cooperation with BRI partner countries, as noted by experts and media outlets. For many countries, participating in the BRI represents an opportunity to deepen their ties with China.
Guo Jiakun emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative has entered a new phase of high-quality development, extending from Eurasia to Africa and Latin America, from infrastructure and institutional connectivity to people-to-people exchanges. The fruits of this cooperation are benefiting populations in more than 150 countries.
To exemplify this, the spokesperson underscored several significant accomplishments of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway has transported over 10 million passengers; the total number of China-Europe freight train journeys has surpassed 110,000; a new land-sea corridor connecting China with Latin American countries has been established, linking Peru’s Chancay Port to Shanghai; the installed capacity of solar power plants collaboratively developed by China and African nations has exceeded 1.5 gigawatts; and innovative initiatives, such as the Luban Workshops and JunCao grass technology, have enabled numerous households to embark on a path toward economic prosperity.Guo added that after more than a decade of development, the BRI, centered on enhancing connectivity, is evolving into a platform for trade and industrial cooperation. It is helping more countries integrate into global production chains and jointly safeguard the stability and resilience of global supply chains.
In implementing BRI cooperation, China remains committed to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits; to the concepts of openness, sustainability, and integrity; and to the pursuit of high standards, sustainability, and people-centered development. Guo pointed out that China is committed to helping all partner countries modernize.
Central Asia on the Rise – China’s Record Belt and Road Investments in 2025
Chinese investments in Central Asia reached a record $25 billion in the first half of 2025 — a milestone for regional integration and a clear sign of the region’s growing role in the global economy. These findings are highlighted in a new joint report by Griffith University (Australia) and the Center for Green Finance and Development (China).
A total of 176 investment and construction agreements were signed, amounting to $124 billion — surpassing the total value for all of 2024. Central Asia has become the second-largest recipient of BRI investments after Africa ($39 billion in Africa, $25 billion in Central Asia). Kazakhstan led the region by attracting around $23 billion, making it the primary recipient, followed by Uzbekistan with $2.2 billion.
The spotlight is on the 523-kilometer China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project, which is expected to reduce transit time between China and Europe by 7–8 days and expand export opportunities for landlocked countries. This initiative is driving the development of green industrial zones, supply chains, and job creation. The CKU project is more than just infrastructure — it is a symbol of strategic transformation as Central Asia emerges from the shadows to become a vital transit and industrial hub of Eurasia.
Nevertheless, some experts are cautious and argue that China's BRI and the EU's Global Gateway (which has a €300 billion fund) focus more on complementarity than competition. Experts are recommending that infrastructure projects such as CKU be transformed into sustainable development bridges between Asia and Europe through joint financing, standard harmonization, and openness.
The modern BRI agenda is shifting away from purely traditional infrastructure. We are now seeing that metallurgy and resource extraction account for 20% of all BRI deals — highlighting the strategic importance of the region’s natural resources. Investments in green technologies (solar panels, hydrogen, batteries) have also surged, exceeding $23 billion and doubling in volume. The role of the private sector has grown as well — companies like East Hope Group, Xinfa Group, and Longi Green Energy have become major investors.
China is no longer just an external investor — it is becoming a co-architect of Central Asia’s modernization, contributing to the transformation of energy, logistics, and production infrastructure. Against this backdrop, we can expect the emergence of new regional strategies rooted in mutual interdependence, stronger institutions to ensure transparency and efficiency, and a responsible development approach focused on local priorities.
Central Asia is entering a new era — from an aid recipient to an active participant in global development. The decisions made today will shape the region’s economic sovereignty, resilience, and global position for decades to come.
GSR

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