Central Asian leaders attend WAIC; Kazakhstan signs over 70 deals worth $15 bln in AI, digital infrastructure

Central Asian nations are increasingly aligning with Beijing as competition between the United States and China intensifies over dominance in artificial intelligence development.

Top officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan recently gathered in Shanghai for the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping outlined an ambitious vision for China's leadership in the global AI race. The American and Chinese models for AI development differ significantly.

Ahead of the conference on July 16, officials from 29 countries—including the four participating Central Asian states—signed an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) , headquartered in Shanghai. The organization appears designed to help Beijing advance its global AI ambitions.

Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the AI gathering immediately after Xi's opening speech, praising China's leadership in the field. He stated:

"More than half of the world's AI researchers are from the PRC, Chinese innovators hold the largest number of AI-related patents, and the country's dynamic innovation ecosystem is advancing at a breakthrough pace across many areas of cutting-edge technology."

Tokayev offered to host WAICO's first annual meeting in Astana and to establish WAICO's Central Asian office in the Kazakh capital. Following his meetings with Xi and Chinese executives, more than 70 deals worth over $15 billion were signed, many involving AI, digital infrastructure, and other high-tech initiatives.

Key Deals Signed by Kazakhstan

The $15 billion portfolio also included agreements on transport, manufacturing, energy, and critical minerals. While few specifics have been disclosed, major deals include:

• Investment agreement with China's Guoyou Materials Group to construct a multifunctional terminal in Kazakhstan's Caspian port of Kuryk, a key hub of the Middle Corridor.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Communications Construction Company to build a 600 MW hydroelectric facility in the Almaty region.
• Cooperation agreement among China's Acre Coking & Refractory Engineering Consulting Corporation, Kazakhstan's largest steel producer Qarmet, and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan to construct two new coke battery complexes and a coke gas purification system in the Karaganda region.
• Financial agreement between the Development Bank of Kazakhstan and China Central Depository & Clearing Co. to facilitate greater participation by Chinese investors in Kazakh financial instruments and strengthen financial system links.
• MoU signed by Samruk-Kazyna, Freedom Holding Corp., the Astana city administration, and China's Geely Auto Group to develop EV-charging infrastructure and introduce AI solutions to Kazakhstan's automotive industry.
• Licensing agreement between Kazakhstan's Astana Group and China's Chery Holding Group to manufacture Chinese EVs Omoda and Jaecoo at the Astana Motors Manufacturing plant.
• MoU between Kazakhstan National University (KazNU) and Suzhou University to establish the former's campus in China.

Separately, Kazakhstan's prime minister instructed the Ministry of Ecology and other agencies to finalize negotiations with China Tianying Inc within two weeks and submit for approval an investment agreement for new waste management facilities in at least three major Kazakh cities.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan's Ministry of Industry and New Technologies announced bilateral agreements with the PRC in Shanghai.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's digital development minister met with major Chinese entities to discuss joint AI projects. Those talks did not yield any specific deals.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's state-owned agricultural company Kyrgyz Agroholding signed an MoU with the China National Electric Engineering Corporation to build a fertilizer plant with a capacity of up to 600,000 tons per year. The same Kyrgyz company also made a deal with Chinese biotechnology firm Shijiazhuang Shineon to build a veterinary vaccine plant in Kyrgyzstan that will annually produce 25–30 million doses meeting international GMP standards.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan did not send a delegation to Shanghai. However, the country's Ministry of Communications signed an MoU with China's National Development and Reform Commission, a powerful super-ministry, covering AI cooperation.

Additionally, Turkmenistan and China signed a package of agreements spanning energy, artificial intelligence, science and technology, education, healthcare, culture, transport, and logistics. Key deals included:

• Establishment of a joint Turkmen-Chinese Energy Education Center
• A new framework for AI cooperation
• A 2026–2028 scientific and innovation cooperation plan