BEIJING (Reuters) -China President Xi Jinping signed a treaty to elevate ties with Central Asian nations on Tuesday, as Beijing looks to further deepen cooperation on trade, energy and infrastructure with the resource-rich region.

Xi emphasized that building on the collective efforts over the years, the nations have forged a China-Central Asia Spirit of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development".

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with leaders of five Central Asian countries participating in the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana on June 17, 2025.