In a historic summit held in Xi’an on Friday, China’s President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for China and Central Asia to unlock their full potential in trade, economic, and infrastructure cooperation.
The summit, which brought together the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, has been deemed a momentous event by Beijing.
According to Chinese officials, bilateral trade between China and Central Asia reached an impressive $70 billion in 2022, showcasing a remarkable 22 percent year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2023.
Recognizing the strategic importance of the region, President Xi Jinping highlighted the crucial role that Central Asia plays in China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative—a trillion-dollar global infrastructure project. The initiative aims to enhance connectivity and promote economic cooperation between Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.
During the summit, President Xi Jinping called for both China and the Central Asian nations to fully unleash their potential, tapping into the abundant opportunities for trade, economic growth, and infrastructure development. The meeting served as a platform to strengthen ties and deepen cooperation between the participating countries, focusing on mutual benefits and shared prosperity.
The Chinese leader’s call to maximize cooperation in various sectors resonated with the heads of state from Central Asia, who expressed their commitment to furthering regional integration and collaboration with China. The discussions at the summit centered on exploring avenues for increased investment, promoting connectivity through transport networks, and bolstering cultural exchanges.
As the summit concluded, President Xi Jinping expressed optimism about the future prospects of cooperation between China and Central Asia. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to pave the way for enhanced trade relations, accelerated economic growth, and transformative infrastructure projects that will shape the strategic landscape of the region and beyond.
Speaking to regional leaders, Xi said the countries must “fully unleash the potential of traditional cooperation in economy, trade, industrial capacity, energy and transport”, according to a state media readout.
He also stressed the need to develop “new growth drivers … such as finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, low carbon, health, and digital innovation”.
“China and Central Asian countries should deepen strategic mutual trust, and always offer clear and strong support for each other on issues of core interests.”
