As Central Asia confronts growing pressures from climate change, water scarcity, and the need to modernize its agricultural sector, China is expanding its presence and influence in these spheres.
In Kazakhstan, the National Agrarian Science and Educational Center, the Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine and the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences signed an agreement covering the transfer of Chinese technologies, the development of modern biopesticides, the localization of production in Kazakhstan and the training of Kazakh specialists, according to Dknews.kz.
In addition, in Kazakhstan’s northern regions, a pilot project with China’s Taihua Modern Agriculture Operation Management Co., Ltd.has shown promising results, with drought-resistant hybrids expected to produce up to five tons of grain per hectare while improving quality and reducing production costs, writes InBusiness.kz.
Also, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and China’s Three Gorges Vocational College of Electric Power agreed to form a joint working group to develop a training center at the Kazakh Research Institute of Water Management in Taraz and a joint vocational college at the Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation.
The two entities will train water-industry specialists for Kazakhstan.In Uzbekistan, after a major China-organized training seminar for Uzbek government officials and industry professionals, China’s M-Grass Ecology and Environment Group signed a deal with Uzbekistan’s Green University to develop projects focused on seed and seedling production, grassland restoration, and desertification control.
In Tajikistan, the minister of economic development met with the PRC’s Shaanxi Apple Group to develop agricultural processing projects under an MoU the two sides signed in May.
They are also exploring ways to introduce advanced farming technologies and bring in Chinese investments, according to Avesta.tj.Kazakhstan Freedom Bank Kazakhstan signed an MoU with Antom, the payment arm of Ant International, to develop a direct payment gateway between Kazakhstan and China, writes Dknews.kz.
Ant International operates the global Alipay infrastructure.The integration will allow users of the Freedom SuperApp to make purchases on major Chinese marketplaces directly through the app, reducing payment barriers and simplifying cross-border e-commerce transactions between the two countries.
China’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Han Chunlin, highlighted plans to expand collaboration across the entire mineral value chain from exploration and extraction to processing, storage, transport, and sales while introducing Chinese green technologies and environmentally responsible mining practices, according to Kazinform.
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to address Bishkek’s concerns about the behavior of Chinese companies and their employees in Kyrgyzstan.Japarov reportedly emphasized that all foreign companies, including Chinese firms, must comply with Kyrgyz laws and respect the country’s culture and traditions.
Recently, officers of Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized nationwide “preventive conversations” with Chinese workers amid growing reports of wrongdoing by Chinese nationals.
China has sent the first shipment of fuel to Kyrgyzstan, following reports that fuel supplies from Russia had nearly ceased due to disruptions at Russian oil refineries caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, Kaktus Media reports citing the Kyrgyz minister of energy.
A joint Chinese-Kyrgyz archaeological project was launched at the site of the ancient city of Shurabashat, one of the most significant archaeological complexes in the eastern Fergana Valley, according to People’s Daily.
Turkmenistan Turkmen confectionery brand Balam is preparing to enter the Chinese market as part of efforts to expand its export presence.Uzbekistan Construction of Uzbekistan’s first toll highway, which will connect Tashkent and Samarkand, has officially begun.
The $2.18 billion, 282-kilometer project will be built by a Chinese company, Overseas Engineering Construction, with 85 percent of financing covered by loans and the remainer coming out of Uzbekistan’s state budget.
A joint Uzbek-Chinese Green Energy Research Laboratory has opened under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy.The initiative is a partnership with the Inner Mongolia University of Technology.
The project is intended to position Uzbekistan as a regional hub for green energy research and technology demonstration in Central Asia, writes UzDaily.uz.The Center of Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Palace Museum signed a memorandum of cooperation to expand cultural and museum collaboration.