China's $66.1 Billion Bet on Eurasia Reshapes Economic Ties by 2025
Chinese investment in the Eurasian region has surged over the past decade. By 2025, total foreign direct investment (FDI) from China reached $66.1 billion—a rise of nearly 80% since 2016. This growth highlights the region’s increasing importance as a destination for Chinese capital. Between 2016 and 2025, China’s accumulated FDI in Eurasia climbed from $37.3 billion to $66.1 billion. The most recent year alone saw a 13% increase, pushing the total to its highest level yet. Central Asia emerged as the top recipient, with Chinese investment there reaching nearly $36 billion.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan led in attracting funds, each receiving around $10 billion. Kazakhstan dominated in total investment value, thanks to several large-scale projects. Uzbekistan, however, took the lead in the number of new initiatives, with its Chinese-backed investment soaring from $2.1 billion to $10.7 billion—a more than fivefold jump.
In Uzbekistan, over half of China’s investment went into electricity, particularly renewable energy. Across Central Asia, commodities, manufacturing, and power generation now make up 85% of total Chinese FDI. Between late 2024 and early 2025, around 25 new projects launched in the region, worth over $5 billion in combined investment.
By 2025, total accumulated investment from Asian countries in Eurasia hit roughly $120 billion. China alone accounted for 55% of that figure, reinforcing its position as the region’s largest foreign investor. The expansion of Chinese FDI has reshaped economic ties across Eurasia. With Central Asia as the primary focus, key sectors like energy, manufacturing, and commodities continue to draw major funding. The trend suggests further growth as new projects and large-scale initiatives take hold.
