China’s President Xi Jinping is hosting a two-day summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The five Central Asian nations are on the forefront of Beijing’s so-called belt and road initiative. It was launched in 2013 to expand China’s economic and political influence. Trade relations between these countries have been increasing. since the fall of the Soviet Union. After Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s investments in the region grew to 70 billion dollars. The gathering coincides with the G7 summit in Japan– But China’s foreign ministry says it’s not in competition with any third party.

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