China| 434 Articles

A Chinese-made electric bus in Baku. (Photo: gov.az)

Commentary: Addressing China’s growing electric vehicle footprint in Azerbaijan

Lots of benefits, along with risk of trade-deficit trap.
Yunis SharifliMar 27, 2025
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (left) meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at an SCO event in Kazakhstan on July 3, 2024. The Uzbek government wants to maintain a sense of strong domestic support for its “all-weather strategic partnership“ with China, but the initial effort to reassure Uzbeks did not appear to stem the social media-driven discontent. (Photo: president.uz)

Social networks in Uzbekistan buzzing with criticism of Chinese economic practices

Government struggling to contain hostile comments.
Mar 12, 2025
(Photo: gov.kz)

New rail routes launched in Central Asia, bypassing Russia

Reducing transit times, cutting transport costs and hurting the Kremlin’s bottom line.
Mar 5, 2025
Hualong One, a generation III pressurized water nuclear reactor that China’s National Nuclear Corp reportedly pitched to Kazakhstan. Companies from Russia, France and South Korea also submitted their bids, and there have been indications that a bidder from the U.S. may seek to enter the tender sweepstakes, too. (Photo: CNNC)

Kazakhstan selects site for its first nuclear power station

The United States showing interest in developing nuclear power in the region.
Feb 27, 2025
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the US interest in cooperation with Central Asian countries. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)

US shows interest in bolstering ties with Central Asian states

Washington interested in widening access to region’s mineral wealth.
Feb 26, 2025
The Khorgos Gateway dry port on the Chinese-Kazakh border. Trade with Kazakhstan accounted for nearly half of China’s turnover with Central Asian states in 2024. (Photo: gov.kz)

China enhances position as Central Asia’s economic overlord

Trade balance heavily favors Beijing.
Jan 29, 2025
Jackson-Vanik repeal expectations are based on comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his confirmation hearings earlier in January at which he described the amendment as “an absurd relic of the past” and expressed a commitment to improving trade relations with Central Asian states. (Screenshot)

Trump administration likely to pursue steady US trade course in Central Asia

Hopes rise for fast repeal of Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions.
Almaz KumenovJan 21, 2025
Health officials in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have issued health advisories cautioning families with small children to avoid crowded public spaces. (Photo: gov.kz)

Central Asian states contending with HMPV cases

The virus spreads beyond China’s borders.
Jan 8, 2025
The waste-to-energy plant is expected to become operational in 2025 or 2026. (Photo: Bishkek Mayor’s Office)

Kyrgyzstan: Chinese firm scores a sweetheart deal to turn Bishkek’s garbage into profits

Bishkek officials say the solution is environmentally friendly.
Erlan MashanloNov 7, 2024
The Bakurtsikhe-Tsnori road in Georgia was built in 2024 by China Communications Construction Company as part of efforts to boost and streamline traffic via the Middle Corridor. China and Georgia signed an MoU in September committing to jointly develop infrastructure, streamline customs procedures, and improve security and digitization of logistics. (Photo: gov.ge)

China expanding economic presence in South Caucasus

Deals aim to expand Middle Corridor trade.
Oct 17, 2024
A rendering of the Ferghana Region BESS. (Image: CEEC)

Uzbekistan making progress on green-energy power plan

New facility will help ensure regular electricity supplies.
A cargo truck at the Irkeshtam Kyrgyz-Chinese border crossing. (Photo: gov.kg)

Kyrgyzstan coming increasingly under China’s economic thumb

Bishkek amassing large trade deficit with Beijing.
(Photo: Asian Development Bank via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Russia-China gas deal appears to hit the skids

China may turn to Turkmenistan for added supplies.
The export suspension to China, combined with the projected bumper crop, is already causing wheat prices to plunge in Kazakhstan. (Photo: gov.kz)

China changes tariff rules for Kazakh wheat, causing an export halt

Beijing’s surprise move exacerbates Kazakh farmers’ projected losses.
Almaz KumenovAug 14, 2024
An artist’s rendering of the Anaklia deepwater port. (Photo: Anaklia Development Consortium)

International Arbitration Court rules in favor of Georgian government on port development case

Full-speed ahead for Chinese consortium to construct Anaklia facility.
Brawley BensonJul 30, 2024
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili (right) met with the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina, on the sidelines of the NATO summit. (Photo: gov.ge)

Georgia: FM tries to put positive spin on Georgian-NATO ties

The Pentagon and State Department are unhappy with Tbilisi’s recent “actions and statements.”
Ekaterina VenkinaJul 10, 2024
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference ahead of the alliance’s summit in Washington. (Photo: NATO press service)

NATO Summit: Georgia and Armenia will get some attention

A carrot for Yerevan and maybe a stick for Tbilisi.
The SCO boasts that its member states now account for almost 27 percent of the world’s landmass and more than 42 percent of the global population. But the organization is yet to show significant, tangible results. (Photo: akorda.kz)

Kazakhstan: SCO summit doesn’t put much meat on organization’s bones

Summit’s most significant accomplishment is admitting Belarus as full member.
Almaz KumenovJul 5, 2024
The ghost tower of Anaklia. The town seems like a graveyard of investment projects: there are empty villas, remnants of beach bars, and too many half-finished buildings to count. (All photos: Brawley Benson)

Georgia: In the doldrums at the fulcrum of a geopolitical pivot

Locals aren’t optimistic about Chinese consortium’s port plans for Anaklia.
Brawley BensonJul 1, 2024