China and five Central Asian nations last week concluded their Second China-Central Asia Summit, unveiling a series of trade and investment agreements and underscoring Beijing's deepening economic commitment with the neighboring region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tajikistan last week, vowing more cooperation between the two nations in new energy, mining, and trade.

The China-Eurasia Expo, a flagship event slated to take place in Xinjiang's capital Urumqi, has emerged as Beijing's platform to bolster the region's trade ties amid ongoing scrutiny. From oil and gas to renewable energy, the Expo aims to cast a spotlight on the

Last month, China's State Council announced that it will create a free trade pilot zone in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, an area that has been the source of tensions between China and the West, and turn the region into a trade hub. The official document was published yesterday,

Xi promised US$3.7 billion financing support and grants; Mirziyoyev proposed multilateral agreement on investment; Berdimuhamedov proposed a mechanism to monitor implementation.

Ahead of the China-Central Asian Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leaders of the five Central Asian countries, renewing their ties and signing bilateral agreements on trade, investment, energy, and transportation.

At a U.S. House of Representatives hearing yesterday, members of Congress asked Biden administration officials about a range of issues related to economic relations with China: export licenses granted by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); China's economic coercion; MFN treatment for