Economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries is expected to usher in new breakthroughs. China has become increasingly close in economic and trade exchanges with Central Asia countries. In the first quarter of this year, the trade volume between the two countries increased by 22% year-on-year. China's direct investment in the five countries exceeded US$3 billion as of the end of March this year. China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and other major projects have been successfully completed.