China wants to help Kazakhstan create a new “Dubai” on the Central Asian steppe.

During a recent trade event in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, Chinese and Kazakh officials agreed in principle on 24 different projects to develop Alatau City, a futuristic urban centre intended to become a regional hub of finance and digital innovation. It is widely considered President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s signature initiative.

“Agreements were signed on the creation of next-generation battery production, energy storage systems, modern agricultural machinery, development of electric transport and charging infrastructure, construction of industrial enterprises, energy facilities, engineering, transport and logistics infrastructure, as well as the introduction of Smart City technologies,” according to a Kazakh government statement.

Although not finalised, the agreements are potentially valued at up to $6bn. Kazakh officials tout Alatau City as “a future-oriented urban centre that prioritises sustainability, technological innovation and green growth [and] aims to redefine a future of urban living in Kazakhstan.”

More from Kazakhstan

Successful field trials of a product to protect wheat fields and fruit farms against degradation by Moroccan locusts have been completed in the Turkestan region under a joint project carried out by Kazakhstan’s Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine and China’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences, reports Kazinform. 

Kyrgyzstan

Given a rise in bilateral trade turnover, China and Kyrgyzstan are discussing agreements to update the existing border regime, including the modernisation of the Torugart and Irkeshtam border points, reports Open.kg. The declared goal is to streamline cross-border logistics procedures and enhance security measures aimed at combatting smuggling and illegal migration.

Fines have been imposed for violations of environmental regulations connected to the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, writes Kaktus Media, citing the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources. Unannounced inspections of construction sites reportedly turned up 30 violations.

Alma Finance Bank has established itself as “the most capitalised among the new entrants to the banking sector” in Kyrgyzstan, reports the Akchabar news outlet. The bank was established with Chinese investors and now has a capitalisation exceeding 2 billion Kyrgyzstani som (almost $28mn).

Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s Committee on Primary and Secondary Vocational Education and China’s Guangzhou Zhizhi Enterprise Management Consulting Co signed an MoU to expand collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technologies, as well as promoting Chinese language classes, reports Avesta.tj. 

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is turning to China for experience in developing television content. Representatives of Turkmenistan’s State Committee on Television, Radio and Cinematography visited the PRC to study “the best practices of Chinese colleagues” and then “implement them in [Turkmenistan’s] film and television industry,” according to Turkmenistan's government news portal.

Scientists from Turkmenistan’s National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences concluded an expedition covering several protected areas in Turkmenistan, according to Turkmenistan.ru. The data collected will be used to prepare a new edition of the Red Book of Turkmenistan and an atlas of desert plants.

Uzbekistan

A representative of Uzbekistan’s Customs Committee met in Beijing with the leadership of the China Customs Brokers Association (CCBA) to discuss potential cooperation in the customs sector, according to UzDaily.uz. The meeting yielded preliminary agreements to exchange information and analytical materials and hold joint consultative events. The CCBA is a nonprofit entity overseen by the country’s General Administration of Customs.

Two dual-purpose electric locomotives have entered service in the Tashkent region after being refurbished in China by the Chinese corporation CRRC, reports Upl.uz. The refurbishment was carried out under an agreement signed between Uzbekistan Railways and CRRC. In all, there are plans to modernise a total of 12 electric locomotives, as well as plans for a phased delivery of an additional 38 new freight, passenger and shunting locomotives by the end of 2034.

The Uzbekistan-China Forum of Leading Think Tanks in the 10+10 format titled "A New Stage in Uzbek-Chinese Relations: A Shared Vision and a Shared Future" convened in Shanghai, according to UzDaily.uz. The forum brought together representatives from think tanks, academic circles, security bodies and economic authorities to discuss an array of bilateral issues.

This article first appeared on Eurasianet here.