China Expands Its Central Asian Footprint Through Aviation, Energy, and Trade

China and Central Asia are acting fast to expand air links. Chinese and Central Asian aviation officials gathered in Tashkent on November 3-5 for a Working Group session under the C51 format to improve implementation of existing agreements and review expansion plans. During the meeting, Kazakhstan agreed to raise permitted weekly flights from 150 to 180 and add routes to Chengdu and Kashgar.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, agreed to increase the number of weekly flights to China from 100 to 114. Uzbekistan also proposed establishing new routes connecting Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and expanding weekly service between the two countries' major cities, Tashkent, Almaty and Astana. Ahead of the conference, Air Astana and China Southern Airlines signed a strategic partnership agreement.