A stable Central Asia means a peaceful world
XI'AN - Chinese President Xi Jinping said the world needs a stable Central Asia and emphasised the need for the block's sovereignty, security, independence and territorial integrity to be upheld. Jinping added that a dynamic and prospering Central Asia will help people in the region achieve their aspiration for a better life and lend strong impetus to global economic recovery.
“Their people's choice of development paths must be respected; and their efforts for peace, harmony and tranquility must be supported,” he stated recently during the ChinaCentral Asia Summit held in Xi'an.
The Central Asia region (CA) consists of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It is a diverse region with a mix of upper middle and low-income countries with major strategic importance due to their geographic location and natural resource endowments.
The Chinese President stated: “The China-Central Asia relationship is steeped in history, driven by broad actual needs, and built on solid popular support. Our relations are brimming with vigour and vitality in the new era”.
Central Asia, the centre of the Eurasian continent, is at a crossroads connecting the East and West, the South and North.
Central Asia has the right foundation, condition and capability to become an important connectivity hub of Eurasia and make unique contribution to the trading of goods, the interplay of civilizations and the development of science and technology in the world.
Jinping said China is ready to help Central Asian countries strengthen capacity building on law enforcement, security and defence, support their independent efforts to safeguard regional security and fight terrorism and work with them to promote cybersecurity.
“China will continue to provide government scholarships for Central Asian countries and support their universities in joining the University Alliance of the Silk Road. We will ensure the success of the Year of Culture and Arts for the Peoples of China and Central Asian Countries as well as the China-Central Asia high-level media dialogue. We will launch the ChinaCentral Asia Cultural and Tourism Capital program, and open special train services for cultural tourism in Central Asia,” he highlighted.
He said to bolster cooperation and Central Asian development, China will provide Central Asian countries with 26 billion RMB yuan (N$70 billion) of financing support and grant.
China will also work with Central Asian countries to conduct cooperation in areas like improvement and utilising of saline-alkali land and watersaving irrigation, build together a joint laboratory on agriculture in arid lands, and tackle the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea.
Jinping stated that China supports establishing high-tech firms and IT industrial parks in Central Asia and welcomes Central Asian countries to participate in special cooperation programs under the Belt and Road Initiative, including programs on sustainable development technologies, innovation and start-up, and spatial information science and technology.
Said Jinping: “China will take more trade facilitation measures, upgrade bilateral investment treaties, and open 'green lanes' for streamlined customs clearance of agricultural and sideline products at all border ports between China and Central Asian countries. China will also hold a livestreaming sales event to further promote Central Asian products, and build a commodities trading centre. All this is part of an effort to push two-way trade to new heights”.