Bishkek to Host Central Asia-US "B5+1" Forum

The second "B5+1" Forum will be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from February 4th to 5th, 2026. This announcement was made at an ambassadorial briefing on the forum's preparations. The forum aims to implement the consensus reached at the "C5+1" summit in Washington, D.C., on November 6th, 2025. Its main objectives are to promote regional integration, enhance the investment attractiveness of Central Asian countries, and expand economic cooperation with the United States.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce stated that the forum's topics will focus on key areas such as agriculture, e-commerce and information technology, transportation and logistics, tourism, banking, and cooperation in key minerals. These areas are considered crucial for deepening economic cooperation between Central Asian countries and the United States.

01 Forum Background and Strategic Value

The B5+1 Forum represents a business cooperation mechanism between the five Central Asian countries and the United States, and is an important supplement to the C5+1 diplomatic framework. Established in 2015, the C5+1 mechanism provides a formalized platform for diplomatic interaction between Central Asian countries and the United States.

In September 2023, the C5+1 summit was held in New York, marking a new level of development for the mechanism. Participating countries pledged in a joint statement to “achieve C5+1 resilience through security, economic, and energy partnerships,” emphasizing that “strengthening conditions supporting long-term economic resilience is essential for increasing global market access and attracting sustainable international investment to Central Asia.”

The inaugural B5+1 Business Forum was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan in March 2024, bringing together representatives from the C5+1 countries and 10 other countries, 5 international organizations, and over 400 business associations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for International Private Enterprise noted that the event aimed to fulfill the commitments of the C5+1 New York Declaration, focusing on promoting closer regional economic integration.

The Washington Summit in November 2025 ushered in a “new phase in the development of the Central Asia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue.” Uzbek President Mirziyoyev proposed at the summit the establishment of a permanent secretariat, a ministerial-level investment and trade coordination committee, and the launch of the Central Asia Investment Partnership Fund.

02 The Geostrategic Shift in Central Asia

The five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—are actively pursuing diversified diplomatic strategies. This trend has become more pronounced since the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Their collective abstention from UN resolutions related to Ukraine demonstrates their desire to maintain a strategic distance from major regional powers. Simultaneously, internal cooperation among Central Asian countries is strengthening, with frequent post-2023 summits between the five leaders promoting regional integration.

Qiu Zhien, a researcher at the Atlantic Council's Global China Center, points out: "Despite a strong strategic partnership between Central Asia and China, the US-led efforts come at a crucial moment when Central Asia is open to new ideas."

The US strategy in Central Asia can be traced back to the "Greater Central Asia Initiative" proposed in 2005, which later evolved into the "New Silk Road Vision," focusing on the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan. However, these initiatives have had limited success due to regional tensions and great power rivalry.

The B5+1 initiative differs in that it empowers Central Asian businesses with strategies to promote market integration, reflecting a focus on grassroots integration.

03 Kyrgyzstan's Strategic Positioning

As the host country of this forum, Kyrgyzstan is actively positioning itself as a hub for regional economic cooperation. Kyrgyzstan's economy has shown strong growth momentum, with GDP increasing by 10.2% in the first 11 months of 2025.

The country's development in the e-commerce sector is particularly prominent. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kaseymaliev stated at the 2025 Central Asia E-commerce Expo Forum: "E-commerce is becoming one of the key drivers of economic growth and digitalization."

The Kyrgyz e-commerce market is projected to reach $525 million in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 15%, accounting for 13% of retail trade, higher than the global level of 5%. By 2028, the Kyrgyz e-commerce market is expected to exceed $700 million.

The Kyrgyz government is building e-commerce parks as platforms to support entrepreneurs in the e-commerce sector, introducing special tax policies, with a 2% tax rate on turnover, exempt from VAT, income tax, and sales tax. This initiative aims to attract more investment and promote Kyrgyzstan's integration into the global supply chain, including the Belt and Road Initiative.

04 Key Areas of Cooperation and Opportunities

E-commerce and the Digital Economy

E-commerce is one of the key topics of the B5+1 Forum. The Kyrgyz government is developing a new e-commerce development plan until 2030, while also working to expand cross-border trade and encourage domestic enterprises to join international platforms. E-commerce not only creates new job opportunities but also promotes Kyrgyzstan's integration into the global supply chain.

Kyrgyzstan has also made progress in digital infrastructure. By early 2025, the total area of ​​modernized Class A and Class B warehouse facilities will reach 108,000 square meters, with approximately 90% located in Chuy Region. In the first half of 2025, the total number of online shopping transactions will reach approximately 1 million, with a transaction value of approximately 1.7 billion soms, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 56%.

Key Mineral Development

Key minerals are another important area of ​​cooperation. In February 2024, the United States launched the "C5+1 Key Minerals Dialogue," focusing on rare earths in Kazakhstan and copper mines in Uzbekistan. Central Asia is rich in mineral resources, including key minerals such as rare earth elements and copper, making cooperation in the development of these resources strategically significant.

The joint statement between the United States and Central Asian countries mentions "establishing diversified, resilient, and secure supply chains for key minerals; developing new technologies for raw material extraction and processing." The C5+1 Key Minerals Dialogue aims to provide a forum for C5+1 countries to share information on key mineral challenges and opportunities, foster connections between government officials and private sector industries, and promote investment.

Transportation, Logistics, and Energy Cooperation

Transportation and logistics cooperation is also a key area. The United States and Central Asian countries pledged to "continue investing in and developing the trans-Caspian trade route, the so-called 'Middle Corridor,' as well as energy infrastructure and expanding transport networks connecting Central and South Asia."

Global infrastructure and investment partnerships will be used to assess opportunities to expand infrastructure investment to accelerate economic development, energy security, and connectivity of the Middle Corridor.

In the energy sector, both sides are committed to "integrating regional energy systems, diversifying and expanding new energy export channels," increasing clean energy production and methane mitigation projects, and developing sustainable hydropower capacity and energy efficiency.

05 Challenges and Prospects

While the B5+1 Forum offers new opportunities for cooperation between Central Asian countries and the United States, it also faces numerous challenges. Professor Luca Anchesky, Professor of Eurasian Studies at the University of Glasgow, is cautiously optimistic about the long-term impact of the B5+1 initiative. While acknowledging its aim to establish a well-regulated single market in the region, he questions its ability to immediately challenge China's deeply entrenched economic influence.

Anchesky points out: "Whether this initiative will succeed is a big question mark, and it remains to be seen, given the traditional reluctance of local countries to coordinate their policies. In the short term, I don't think the B5+1 has enough power to counter China's commercial influence in the region. The latter is a long-standing, multi-layered economic framework, primarily built on China's continentalism and close ties with Central Asia."

Furthermore, coordinating relations among regional countries is also a challenge. Anchesky further stated, “The business environment in the region is often opaque, the economic landscape of the five Central Asian countries differs, and the U.S.’s ability to align with local stakeholders in the medium term is unclear, especially with the presidential election approaching.”

However, the long-term value of the B5+1 Forum cannot be ignored. Qiu Zhien, a researcher at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Center, believes, “The B5+1 initiative is a commendable experiment by the U.S. in the region. I have also observed similar trends in other regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, where U.S. foreign policy is beginning to prioritize trade components, not only for profits but also for long-term policy goals.”

The B5+1 Forum in February 2026 will be a crucial litmus test for the results of cooperation between Central Asia and the United States. As Central Asian countries actively expand international cooperation under diversified diplomatic strategies, the Bishkek Forum may take a key step towards forming new economic priorities and partnerships within the “Central Asia-U.S.” cooperation framework.