China-Central Asia sign new declaration

The China-Central Asia Summit signed the Xi'an Declaration, endorsed a list of summit results, and mapped a course for the future development of China-Central Asia ties.

A new agreement has been negotiated between China and Central and East Asia. This occurred during the China-East Asia summit in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province.

President Xi Jinping signed the declaration with Kazakhstan's Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan's Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan's Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbekistan's Shavkat Mirziyoyev in an effort to chart a course for the future development of China-Central Asia relations.

The declaration, according to President Xi Jinping, is also a commitment by the six countries to stand firm in support of each other on issues relating to their respective core interests, such as sovereignty, independence, security, and territorial integrity, but most importantly, to respect the development path chosen based on each other's national circumstances.

President Xi (Photo credit : CGTN)

The six countries agreed at the summit to improve synergy among development strategies, promote trade liberalisation and facilitation, expand industrial and investment cooperation, further develop transport corridors connecting China and Central Asia, support the establishment of a China-Central Asia energy development partnership, encourage high-tech cooperation, and ensure regional food security.

The statement will also allow the six countries to strengthen people-to-people interactions by actively working in sports, archaeology, tourism, medical and health care, and other fields.

"We will ensure the success of the Year of Culture and Arts for the Peoples of China and Central Asian Countries (China-Central Asia youth arts festival), establish culture centres in each other's countries, expand mutual visits, encourage youth exchanges, and jointly implement the "Cultural Silk Road" programme," Jinping stated.

China promised to continue granting government scholarships to young Central Asian students, to establish additional Luban Workshops and traditional medicine centres in Central Asia, and to assist them in developing high-caliber talents.

The China-Central Asia Summit Mechanism, with China and Central Asian countries hosting the biennial summit alternately.

The next summit will be held in Kazakhstan in 2025 on that premise. The six countries will work together to flesh out the framework and set up a permanent secretariat in China.

 Furthermore, they would prioritise transportation, trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy, customs, and people-to-people exchanges, and will take solid and effective actions to enhance all-dimensional and on-going cooperation among the six nations.

President Xi stated that this Summit was a good starting point for collaboration. He believes that by working together, China's relations with Central Asian countries would plough ahead like a ship facing all winds and seas, providing new vitality to the six countries' growth and rejuvenation, and injecting strong, positive energy into the region's peace and stability.

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