Kazakhstan holds a special place in China's economic calculations, according to a review by Chinese business publication All China Review, cited by financial analyst Andrey Chebotarev and reported by infohub.kz.
The numbers highlight the scale of Kazakhstan's lead over its neighbors. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan's GDP reached $306 billion -- more than half of Central Asia's entire economy (53.7%). In comparison, Uzbekistan's GDP was $147 billion, Turkmenistan's $77 billion, Kyrgyzstan's $21 billion, and Tajikistan's $17 billion.
The income gap is even more striking: Kazakhstan's GDP per capita is around $15,000, while Uzbekistan's is about $3,800.
According to UNCTAD, the total stock of foreign direct investment in Central Asia stands at $220.5 billion, of which $151.3 billion -- or 68.6% -- is in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan also remains Central Asia's largest financial hub, with banking sector assets valued at $140 billion, far exceeding those of other countries in the region.
For China, Kazakhstan's importance extends beyond its economic size to its strategic location. About 85% of overland cargo between China and Europe passes through Kazakh territory.
"China sees us as the main gateway to the region," the analyst wrote on his Telegram channel.
Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $48 billion in 2025, with a target of $100 billion by 2030. Chinese investment in Kazakhstan has already reached $11.4 billion -- the highest in Central Asia.
The Chinese publication notes that neighboring countries are also growing, but Kazakhstan uniquely combines economic scale, a developed financial system, investment appeal, and a role as a key transit hub.
"Kazakhstan is not just the region's largest market but also one of the most strategically important in Central Asia for long-term cooperation," All China Review writes. "Neighboring economies are showing strong growth and contributing to the region's overall momentum, but the combination of scale, diversification, financial depth, and Kazakhstan's position as China's main gateway to the region positions it as Central Asia's leading economic center for years to come."
From the perspective of Chinese business, Kazakhstan is not only Central Asia's largest economy but also a long-term strategic platform for trade, investment, and the development of new transport routes.