Developing Story
China's Deepening Ties with Central Asia (Uzbekistan Focus)
Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged deeper cooperation with Uzbekistan on minerals, AI, energy and finance, part of Beijing's broader push to expand influence in Central Asia amid competition with Washington. The development adds a new front to the US-China global influence competition narrative.
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## Overview
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for deeper cooperation with Uzbekistan in minerals, AI, energy, finance, and connectivity, as Beijing competes with Washington for influence in Central Asia (SCMP, October 18).
## Key Details
- Li told Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Saturday that Beijing was ready to strengthen strategic communication and expand mutually beneficial cooperation (SCMP, October 18).
- He urged increased cooperation in energy, minerals, finance and connectivity, and deeper collaboration in other unspecified fields, including artificial intelligence (SCMP, October 18).
## Why It Matters
Central Asia is becoming a new arena of US-China strategic competition, with implications for critical minerals supply chains, energy markets, and regional infrastructure investment (Belt and Road-adjacent). This is likely a recurring storyline as China expands outreach to resource-rich Central Asian states while the US seeks counterbalancing influence.