Central Asia's Biggest Pipeline Deal Has a Data Problem

China’s leading international broadcaster, CGTN, aired an interview March 24 with Turkmenistan’s paramount leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, touting how “mutual trust and centuries-old exchanges” shape present-day bilateral relations. But such messaging struck a discordant note during the actual interview, when Berdymukhamedov’s figures for his country’s natural gas exports to China proved significantly different than those subsequently proffered by Chinese officials. During the interview, taped while the Turkmen leader was in Beijing in mid-March, Berdymukhamedov indicated that the recent average annual volume of Turkmen gas shipped to China was about 40 billion cubic meters (bcm). He went on to announce that Beijing and Ashgabat “are currently jointly working on increasing natural gas exports” to 65 bcm. China’s ambassador to Ashgabat, Ji Shumin, told reporters on March 27, however, that Turkmenistan only exported roughly 30 bcm to the PRC in 2025, adding that Beijing expects the volume to stay about the same this year. He also clarified that boosting exports to 65 bcm would require the completion a new pipeline connecting Turkmenistan and China, the so-called Line D, but “this project is still under discussion.” The construction of Line D formally commenced back in 2014. Since then, the project experienced stops and starts, and eventually ground to a halt several years ago, reportedly over pricing disputes. There have not been any recent indications that the impediments that caused the project to stall have been cleared up. The three existing pipelines, A, B and C, can handle about 55 bcm of Turkmen gas every year, but Ji’s comments indicated that the lines are presently not filled to capacity. Turkmen gas exports to China accounts for the vast majority of annual trade between the two states. Turkmenistan is the only Central Asian state to run a trade surplus with China. 

In his CGTN interview, Berdymukhamedov also mentioned that more than 10,000 Turkmen citizens are currently studying in China. If true, that makes the PRC the second most popular destination for Turkmen students after Russia. The number of Turkmen students in the United States is believed to be in the low double digits.

Kazakhstan

Jiaxin International Resources Investment Ltd. a Chinese mining company focused on developing Kazakhstan’s Boguty tungsten mine, one of the world’s largest, reported revenue of about $136 million, and profit of around $42 million in 2025, after suffering a loss of $22.5 million in 2024. The company’s $300 million tungsten ore processing facility began commercial production in April 2025 and produced just over 5,000 tons of tungsten concentrate by the end of the year, making Kazakhstan one of the top three producers in the world. All of the facility’s output was reportedly exported to China, helping the PRC both generate profits and keep its tight control of critical minerals. At full capacity, the Boguty facility is expected to produce 10,000 tons of tungsten concentrate annually for up to 35 years.

Kazakhstan-based PetroKazakhstan Kumkol Resources, co-owned by China’s state-owned oil and gas giant CNPC and Kazakhstan’s state-owned KazMunayGas, will pay $50 million in dividends for the first quarter of 2025. Two thirds of the sum will go to CNPC, reports the Kazakh news outlet Kursiv. 

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An intergovernmental agreement is being prepared to increase the transit of Russian oil to China through Kazakh territory from 10 to 12.5 million tons per year, writes to PetroCouncil.kz, citing KazTransOil. 

China’s customs authority introduced new rules for feed meal producers, worrying Kazakh producers because it may lock some of them out of the Chinese market, while others may face delays and penalties for failing to fulfill delivery obligations in a timely manner, reports APK News. The producers are lobbying Kazakh authorities for help in getting Beijing to modify the regulations. Meanwhile, Kazakh exporters are complaining about glitches of the Keden customs information system operated by Kazakhstan’s State Revenue Committee, reports BES.media. The glitches are reportedly causing delays that result in increased export costs.

A joint Chinese-Kazakhstani music television show titled Voice Beyond the Horizon recently premiered on screens in Kazakhstan, according to the People’s Daily, the official organ of the Chinese Communist Party. Produced by China’s National Radio and Television Administration, the Hunan Broadcasting System and Kazakh partners, the show reportedly has registered high viewer ratings.  Following the “reality-show” genre, the program tracks young musicians from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Malaysia and Italy as they give concerts at locations along the ancient Silk Road trade route.

Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek has been lobbying Beijing for wider access to China’s food market, with limited success. Kyrgyzstan has commenced corn exports to China, shipping an initial batch of 25 tons, reports Economist.kg. Also, Kyrgyz companies will be able to export frozen fruit to the PRC after registering with the Chinese customs administration’s CIFER system, according to 24.kg. 

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Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Emergency Situations Kanatbek Chynybaev met with China’s ambassador in Bishkek, Liu Jiangping, seeking to enlist Beijing’s support for “joint projects aimed at modernizing the [ministry’s] technical base,” according to a ministry statement. Liu was non-committal to the Kyrgyz pitch. Chynybaev also thanked China for supplying funding for firefighting equipment and mobile hospitals. 

Uzbekistan 

Chinese tourism in Uzbekistan is surging. The number of Chinese tourists during the first two months of 2026 totaled about 49,000, over triple the number during the same period the previous year. Even so, China’s share of the burgeoning Uzbek tourism sector remains comparatively low. Uzbek officials reported about 1.8 million people visited Uzbekistan during the January-February period of this year.

China’s e-commerce giant Temu is facing market re-entry difficulties after being restricted in March 2025 for failure to comply with tax obligations and consumer protection requirements, reports Podrobno.uz. According to NAAP, Uzbekistan’s e-commerce regulator, six Temu delegations have visited over the past 12 months for negotiations. But successive rounds of talks have failed to satisfy Uzbek regulators.