ASTANA - The China-Central Asia 2025 people-to-people exchange event, jointly hosted by China Media Group and the Television and Radio Complex of the President of Kazakhstan, was held at the Kazakh Presidential Center in Astana on Monday. The event was attended by more than 150 guests from various fields, including politics, economics, culture, media and education, from China and five Central Asian countries.

The event launched the China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Initiative, which calls for deeper cooperation between media organizations in areas such as joint reporting, content sharing, information dissemination, technological innovation and talent development. The initiative proposes the establishment of a China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Alliance to objectively and broadly amplify the voices of China and Central Asian countries, deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the nations, and contribute to building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

The China-Central Asia People-to-People Exchange 2025 is held at the Kazakhstan Presidential Center in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 16, 2025. /CMG

Kazakh President Kasym-Zomart Tokayev sent his congratulations to the event and wished it a great success. In his speech, Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan and China have consistently adhered to the principles of good neighbourliness and mutual support, and that the bilateral partnership has been elevated to a strategic level, making a significant leap forward. Tokayev stressed that culture has always been a bridge connecting peoples and civilisations and that people-to-people exchanges play a key role in deepening bilateral relations. He stressed Kazakhstan's commitment to strengthening cooperation in this area and expressed confidence that the event would be followed by productive discussions on key issues such as core values, culture and information security, thus making a significant contribution to strengthening inter-state relations.

CMG President Shen Haixiong delivers a speech at the China-Central Asia 2025 People-to-People Exchange Event, Astana, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2025. /CMG

Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister for Publicity of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Media Group (CMG), also attended the event. Shen noted that CMG is both a participant and narrator of the Belt and Road Initiative, and said the media organization has always been committed to promoting friendly exchanges and people-to-people ties between China and Central Asia. CMG has co-produced a number of high-quality programs that vividly portray the story of cooperation and mutual benefit between China and Central Asia. He further said that CMG has tailored the screening of programs to the preferences of Central Asian audiences and showcased the dynamic vitality of China's modernization and the unique charm of Chinese culture. Shen said that CMG is ready to work with media partners in Central Asia to deepen exchanges and cooperation across various sectors, and continue to serve as a messenger of friendship and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of the China-Central Asia media partnership and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

CMG