/ world today news/ Trade between China and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – maintains a strong growth momentum, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Tuesday. In the first two months of this year, trade between China and the five Central Asian countries grew by 22 percent year-on-year.
Trade volume reached US$70.2 billion last year, the highest ever recorded. In 2022, China’s imports of agricultural, energy and mineral products from these countries jumped by more than 50 percent, while exports of mechanical and electronic products increased by 42 percent.
By the end of last year, China’s direct investment in the five Central Asian countries had reached nearly 15 billion dollars. A number of cooperation projects have been launched in areas such as oil and gas exploration, processing and production, connectivity, telecommunications and digital technologies.
Wang Wentao also added that China is willing to work with all countries to promote new patterns in trade and investment, pursue innovation as a driver for development, maintain safe and stable industrial chains and supply chains in the region, and make trade a new engine of growth.
The ministers of the five Central Asian countries expressed their willingness to work together with China to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, digital economy, green development and transport.
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