* Underscoring the importance of a "stable," "prosperous," "harmonious" and "interconnected" Central Asia, Xi's vision in his keynote speech at the summit injected confidence and wisdom into the development of mutually beneficial relations among the six countries, and the endeavor to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
* Ten years into Belt and Road cooperation, China and Central Asian countries have made historic achievements. In 2022, trade volume hit a record high of 70.2 billion U.S. dollars, an over 100-fold increase since diplomatic ties were established about three decades ago.
* As the ancient Silk Road bore witness to interactions between China and Central Asia through the trade of merchandise and flow of ideas, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides are still thriving today.
XI'AN, May 19 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday expounded on how to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future featuring mutual assistance, common development, universal security, and everlasting friendship, when he delivered a keynote speech at the China-Central Asia Summit held in the northwestern Chinese city here.
The event, which ran from Thursday to Friday, was attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It is the first in-person gathering among heads of state of China and five Central Asian countries since China established diplomatic ties with them 31 years ago.
Underscoring the importance of a "stable," "prosperous," "harmonious" and "interconnected" Central Asia, Xi's vision in his keynote speech at the summit injected confidence and wisdom into the development of mutually beneficial relations among the six countries, and the endeavor to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of five Central Asian countries plant six pomegranate trees that represent close China-Central Asia solidarity and cooperation after the first China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
COOPERATION FOR COMMON DEVELOPMENT
Historically, the ancient Silk Road, starting in Xi'an, had been a vital corridor connecting the East and West since the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) about 2,000 years ago.
Such historical and geographic connection has been further strengthened in the modern age, as Xi proposed the idea of building an "economic belt along the Silk Road" in Kazakhstan in 2013, which, combined with the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, eventually became the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Ten years into Belt and Road cooperation, China and Central Asian countries have made historic achievements. In 2022, trade volume hit a record high of 70.2 billion U.S. dollars, an over 100-fold increase since diplomatic ties were established about three decades ago.
During Friday's summit, Xi called on the six countries to continue taking the lead in Belt and Road cooperation and to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative.
He also called for efforts to fully unleash cooperation potential in traditional areas such as trade, industrial capacity, energy and transportation, and to foster new growth drivers in areas such as finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, low carbon, health and digital innovation.
Officials from Central Asian countries and global observers said the China-Central Asia cooperation will be a boon for the prosperity of the region and the world.
