Leaders from China and the five Central Asian nations have come together in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the second China–Central Asia Summit. This high-level gathering is far more than a routine diplomatic event: it represents a defining moment for regional cooperation. Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, expectations are soaring. What tangible progress has been achieved since the Xi'an Declaration? What does this evolving partnership mean for regional stability and economic integration? Can this summit help forge a closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future?