Experts say China-Central Asia cooperation has bright prospects

China-Central Asia cooperation enjoys multiple advantages in terms of cooperation fields and channels, said Zhang Shuyu, a finance researcher with the University of International Business and Economics.

Investment and trade via international trains and highways have developed smoothly in the region thanks to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum and other cooperation mechanisms, according to Zhang.

Industrial and trade cooperation in the region has yielded good results over the last two years.

Chen Yurong, a senior researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, spoke highly of China-Kazakhstan cooperation in the manufacturing sectors, including cement and flat glass production.

"Production capacity cooperation marks a new pattern of economic and trade cooperation. It meets partners' needs in economic transformation," she said.

In Kyrgyzstan, Chinese direct investment soared more than seven-fold in the first half of this year to hit 106 million U.S. dollars, according to data from Kyrgyzstan.

China's foreign trade with Turkmenistan grew from 7 billion U.S. dollars to 9.5 billion U.S. dollars during 2012-2015, and China has become the country's largest trade partner.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has become the highlight of China-Central Asia cooperation," said Ma Peihua, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the fourth China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in Chengdu on Oct. 19.

China is willing to deepen ties with Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Ma. Endi