It is the first summit of its kind: China’s President Xi has invited five Central Asian countries to Xi’an. The main focus of the meeting was economic policy. Observers see it as a clear signal to the West and to Moscow.
China wants to work more closely with the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. President Xi Jinping presented a development plan for the five former Soviet republics at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an, China.
China is willing to pool development strategies with the five states and press ahead with joint modernization efforts, Xi said in his speech at the meeting in central China’s Shaanxi Province. This includes building infrastructure networks, closer cooperation in the energy and industrial sectors and boosting trade.
At the same time, China is ready to provide support on security issues. The heads of state of the five Central Asian countries promised China their support and closer cooperation.
“World needs a harmonious Central Asia”
“The world needs a stable, prosperous, harmonious and well-connected Central Asia,” Xi said. According to the Chinese President, the project aims to take Central Asia to the next level of development. At the same time, China and the five Central Asian countries should deepen mutual strategic trust and offer each other “clear and strong support” on issues of key interest such as sovereignty, independence and long-term development.
One should resist “external interference” in internal affairs and attempts to incite revolutions. There should also be a zero-tolerance attitude towards terrorism, separatism and extremism. China stands ready to help improve law enforcement, security and build defense capabilities. Xi did not mention the Russian war against Ukraine.
Summit should take place regularly
The two-day summit meeting in the historic Silk Road city of Xi’an was celebrated by the Chinese state media as a triumph of Chinese regional diplomacy – also with a view to the “New Silk Road” infrastructure program.
In addition, the meeting should serve to tie the former Soviet republics in Central Asia closer to China, while Russia’s focus is currently on the Ukraine war. China-Central Asia trade reached a record $70 billion last year, with Kazakhstan topping the list at $31 billion.
However, some observers also see the meeting as a counter-event to the current G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. In addition to Russia and the war in Ukraine, China is also likely to be a key issue there.
According to the Xinhua news agency, it was agreed that meetings in this format should take place regularly in the future. The next China-Central Asia summit is planned for 2025 in Kazakhstan.