China-Central Asia Media Forum Convenes in Kazakhstan

On May 29, 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan, China’s People’s Daily and the Kazakh Presidential Radio and Television Administration jointly hosted the 2025 China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Forum, with over 200 media representatives, officials, experts and business representatives attending from China and Central Asian countries. According to official coverage from Chinese state media, the forum prioritized “building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future” (中亚命运共同体), with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sending a congratulatory letter praising China’s Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路) as winning “wide recognition from the international community.” Chinese officials, including Hu Heping (胡和平) from the Central Propaganda Department of the CCP (中共中央宣传部), described the event as promoting “civilizational exchange” (文明交流互鉴) and fostering “people-to-people connectivity” (民心相通) through media cooperation. In its focus on bilateral exchange in line with Chinese foreign policy goals, the forum followed the pattern of such ostensibly media events, serving as a platform for Chinese agendas over professional media and journalism exchange.