(HNM) - The 2023 China-Central Asia Summit, with the presence of host China and the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, was a great success. That result not only strengthened intra-regional cooperation but also raised the region's status in the current global economic and political context.
The 2023 China-Central Asia Summit will take place over two days (May 18 and 19) in the ancient city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, the eastern terminus of the "Silk Road" that once connected China to Europe via Central Asia. This is the first time the summit has been held in person since China established relations with Central Asian countries 31 years ago.
Before the opening day, the leaders of the partner countries held their first bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the meetings, the Chinese leader stated that Beijing is willing to strengthen cooperation in various fields on the basis of long-term friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit, and develop comprehensive cooperation to contribute to common growth with neighboring countries. The head of Asia's number one economy stressed that the world needs a stable, prosperous, harmonious and well-connected Central Asia.
The results of cooperation in recent times have proven that. Trade between China and Central Asian countries reached the milestone of 70 billion USD in 2022, with Kazakhstan leading with 31 billion USD. The first quarter of 2023 recorded this index was 22% higher than the same period last year. This bright economic picture is partly the result of China's efforts to seek deeper economic links to achieve more secure energy and food security. In recent years, the world's second largest energy consumer has also invested billions of USD in natural gas fields and transportation infrastructure in Central Asia.
Continuing the achievements and realizing the above commitments, at the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a cooperation plan with the commitment to "bring Central Asian countries to a new level of development". Accordingly, Beijing will coordinate its development strategy with countries in the region, pursuing joint efforts towards modernization. China hopes to upgrade bilateral investment agreements, comprehensively increase the volume of cross-border goods with the region. Beijing said it will encourage Chinese-invested enterprises to create more jobs in Central Asian localities; build foreign warehouses in the region; launch special railway services to promote cultural tourism...
China also plans to build energy cooperation plans across industrial chains and strengthen cooperation in the new energy sector. Beijing supports the formation of an international transport corridor across the Caspian Sea and will build transport hubs for cargo ship services between China and Europe.
Responding positively to China’s proposals, the countries attending the conference all expressed their determination to work together to overcome challenges and create a close-knit China-Central Asia community with a shared future. In addition to economic cooperation, in the coming time, the parties will also promote people-to-people exchanges on a large scale, with highlights in sports, archaeology, tourism, health, etc. All of these wishes are clearly expressed in the Xi’an Declaration - the official document adopted at the conference.
It can be affirmed that the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit has breathed new life into the regional cooperation environment, while opening up opportunities and momentum for the development of all six countries. These positive steps continue to make important contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the region as well as in the world.
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