China's long-standing ties with the five Central Asian countries have reached a new milestone, with the number of sister-city relationships officially surpassing 100. At the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, significant progress has been made in fostering interregional connections. Shanghai and several Chinese provinces – including Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region – entered into new friendship agreements with their counterparts in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

Among the latest developments, Shanghai signed a sister-city agreement with Almaty, Kazakhstan, while Urumqi in Xinjiang partnered with Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Shaanxi Province established sister-province relationships with the Almaty Region and Turkistan Region of Kazakhstan, the Sughd Region of Tajikistan, and the Ahal Region of Turkmenistan. Hubei also formed a similar partnership with Kazakhstan's Turkistan Region, while Sichuan Province entered into a sister province-city agreement with Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

These new relationships not only expand the network of friendly ties but also underscore a shared commitment to fostering trade, cultural exchange, and mutual development. With these partnerships established, China and Central Asian countries are poised to embark on a new chapter of collaboration and regional prosperity.