China, Central Asian countries deepen cooperation ties

President Xi Jinping has stressed the need for China and Central Asia community to work more closely towards a shared future to deepen mutual assistance, common development, universal security and everlasting friendship.

President Xi Jinping made the statement when he chaired the inaugural Summit of the China-Central Asia which held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province on May 19.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan attended the Summit.

In a friendly atmosphere, the presidents reviewed the history of friendly exchanges between China and the five Central Asian countries, took stock of cooperation experience in various fields, and envisioned future cooperation directions. With the future in mind, they agreed to work together for an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

President Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, warmly welcomed the five presidents to Xi’an for the Summit. President Xi pointed out that in today’s world, transformations unseen in a century are accelerating; the international and regional situation is changing in profound and complex ways; both opportunities and challenges are unprecedented.

The China-Central Asia Summit held at this critical historical juncture following the trend of winwin cooperation and reflects people’s aspirations for everlasting friendship. It is bound to have an important and far-reaching influence on China’s relations with

Central Asian countries, and carry global significance. Taking the Xi’an Summit as an opportunity, China is ready to work with all parties to review past experience, chart a blueprint for cooperation, and demonstrate unity, creativity and efficiency, with a view to achieving sound and sustained growth of China-Central Asia relations.

President Xi delivered a keynote speech entitled “Working Together for a China-Central Asia Community with a Shared Future Featuring Mutual Assistance, Common Development, Universal Security and Everlasting Friendship”.

He noted that Xi’an is an important cradle of the Chinese civilization and nation. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road on the east end. With their joint endeavor of hundreds of years, Chinese and Central Asian peoples made the Silk Road expand and prosper, a historic contribution to the interaction, integration, enrichment and development of world civilizations. This gathering in Xi’an today to renew a millennia-old friendship and open up new vistas for the future is of very important significance.

President Xi recalled putting forward the initiative of jointly building a Silk Road Economic Belt back in 2013. Over the past decade, China and Central Asian countries have worked closely together to fully revive the Silk Road and actively deepen future-oriented cooperation, steering their relations into a new era. The China-Central Asia relationship is steeped in history, driven by broad actual needs, and built on solid popular support. The relations are brimming with vigor and vitality in the new era. Changes of the world, of our times, and of the historical trajectory are taking place in ways like never