Why China and Europe are competing to woo Central Asia

The European Union is seeking to expand its presence in other parts of the world, even as Russia and the United States try to marginalise it in a resolution of the Ukraine war. In Central Asia, the 27-nation bloc is often seen as a partner that regional actors can use to balance their relations with China. But is there anything Brussels can offer that Beijing cannot?

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Central Asia remained in Moscow’s geopolitical and geoeconomic orbit for decades. Over the years, however, China has managed to position itself as the region’s leading trade partner, outpacing Russia in economic importance.

In 2024, China’s overall turnover with Central Asia reached US$94.8 billion. In 2023, the world’s second largest economy replaced Russia as Kazakhstan’s biggest trade partner. It’s a similar story in neighbouring Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

In recent years, as a result of natural gas development, China has become the largest trading partner of energy-rich Turkmenistan. Although Ashgabat’s primary export market is China, Turkmenistan also aims to begin exporting gas to Europe.