Education First: How China Is Cementing Long-Term Influence in Central Asia

China is steadily broadening its influence across Central Asia, leveraging education, economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and cultural diplomacy to strengthen its regional presence.

Higher education has emerged as one of Beijing’s most visible soft-power instruments. Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation have announced competitive Chinese government scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year, The Caspian Post reported, citing foreign media. The programs will enable students to pursue degree studies at Chinese universities.

Alongside this, Chinese embassies across Central Asia are promoting study opportunities in China for mid-career government officials and business executives under the Youth of Excellence Scheme. Institutional academic cooperation is also expanding, with a delegation from the Tajik State University of Commerce visiting Xi’an University of Technology to explore collaborative initiatives.

The exchange, however, is not entirely one-directional. Data from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education shows that Chinese students account for 3,367 of the 35,075 international students currently studying in the country.

Security cooperation remains part of the broader agenda. Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including China and all five Central Asian countries, participated in the Sahand 2025 military and counter-terrorism exercises in Iran under the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. These drills marked the first SCO military exercises hosted by Iran, although analysts cited by RFE/RL noted their limited scale and practical military impact.

Economic diplomacy has also featured prominently. The Tianshan Forum for Central Asia Economic Cooperation, held in Urumqi on December 2–3, produced modest outcomes, with its main result being the announcement of a Central Asia Regional Financial Cooperation Research Center aimed at promoting policy coordination and regional integration.

In Kazakhstan, China has intensified both its messaging and investments. Chinese Ambassador Han Chunlin published articles on China’s poverty-reduction experience in at least 16 Kazakh media outlets and offered Beijing’s support in shaping Kazakhstan’s own anti-poverty strategies. Economically, Kazakhstan’s Chamber of International Commerce signed a memorandum with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to establish a joint committee focused on resolving trade and economic disputes.

Chinese investment is also expanding in Kazakhstan’s agriculture and energy sectors. The government approved an agreement with Xinjiang Lihua to develop a cotton agro-industrial complex in the Turkestan Region, with projected investments of up to 200 billion tenge ($389.286 million) and the creation of more than 1,700 jobs. In the energy sector, KazMunaiGas acquired a 50 percent stake in a new geological exploration company jointly owned with a Sinopec subsidiary. Transport connectivity is also growing, with Air China announcing direct Almaty–Chengdu flights from late 2025.

Uzbekistan is deepening its strategic engagement with China through economic reforms and energy cooperation. Tashkent and Beijing have launched a joint program allowing Uzbekistan to adapt China’s economic and industrial development models, potentially shaping the country’s future IT and artificial intelligence sectors. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also held talks with Chinese energy firms, with projects worth more than $9 billion already underway and additional initiatives announced.

In Kyrgyzstan, ties with China are more nuanced. While Beijing continues to advance infrastructure cooperation, including progress on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, public skepticism toward China remains pronounced. Kyrgyz authorities have sought to counter rumors and social-media narratives about excessive Chinese influence, while Chinese companies have stepped up outreach efforts to ease tensions. Political differences were also reflected in divergent assessments of Kyrgyzstan’s snap parliamentary elections by China and the OSCE.

Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are strengthening relations with China primarily through cultural engagement and energy cooperation. China’s Days of Culture were held in Dushanbe in early December, highlighting expanding cultural and tourism exchanges. In Turkmenistan, Chinese equipment is supporting increased gas production at the Uzynada field and upgrades to water-management infrastructure, reinforcing Beijing’s role as a key economic and technological partner.

Taken together, these developments illustrate China’s multi-layered approach in Central Asia—blending education, investment, infrastructure, security cooperation, and cultural diplomacy to consolidate its long-term influence across the region.