Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the Kazakh capital of Astana has strengthened the bonds between China and Central Asia, paving the way for enhanced cooperation and mutual development. The trip, marked by the second China-Central Asia Summit, brought together leaders from the Chinese mainland and the five Central Asian countries to discuss future collaboration.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the significance of the summit, emphasizing the renewal of traditional friendships and the charting of new development paths. “From Xi’an to Astana, this summit carries important significance in sustaining and strengthening China-Central Asia cooperation,” Wang said.
China-Central Asia Spirit Unveiled
A key outcome of the summit was the introduction of the “China-Central Asia Spirit,” a guiding principle for future cooperation. This spirit emphasizes mutual respect, deepening trust, win-win cooperation, and mutual support. Leaders from all participating countries expressed their commitment to upholding these values.
Boosting High-Quality Development
Focusing on modernization and development, the summit designated 2025 and 2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. The countries agreed to prioritize areas such as smooth trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green mining, agricultural modernization, and personnel exchanges.
In a pioneering move, President Xi and the Central Asian leaders signed an action plan for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. This marks the first time China has signed such documents with all countries in a neighboring region collectively.
Strengthening People-to-People Ties
The summit also fostered cultural and educational exchanges. Multiple sister city agreements were signed, exceeding 100 pairs between China and the Central Asian countries. Furthermore, China pledged to provide 3,000 training opportunities over the next two years and announced the establishment of cooperation centers on poverty reduction, education exchange, and desertification prevention and control.
As global challenges intensify, the strengthened ties between China and Central Asia signal a united front in pursuing peace, development, and shared prosperity.
