The upcoming second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana is set to deepen regional ties and redefine the region's connectivity amid shifting global dynamics. From energy corridors to trade diversification, security cooperation, and groundbreaking infrastructure projects like the China-Kyrgyz-Uzbek Railway, this summit promises concrete outcomes with far-reaching implications. In this edition of The Hub, Wang Guan talks with Vladimir Norov, director of the International Institute of Central Asia, former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Uzbekistan's former foreign minister, to discuss the current global economic landscape, China's contribution to climate resilience, as well as the evolving role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Belt and Road Initiative. Norov also explains how the Global South is challenging Western narratives and looks at ways of fostering intercultural dialogue and delivering public goods.