The first two-day China-Central Asian Summit is concluding in the Chinese northwestern city of Xi'an today. The summit, which runs from Thursday to Friday, has been attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Xinhua reports that in an address delivered at the meeting, President Xi on Friday expounded on how to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Stressing the need for mutual support, Xi reportedly said 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 such as those involving sovereignty, independence, national dignity and long-term development. Underscoring common development, Xi called on the six countries to continue taking the lead in Belt and Road cooperation and to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, according to Xinhua. He reportedly also called for efforts to fully unleash cooperation potential in traditional areas such as trade, industrial capacity, energy and transportation, and to foster new growth drivers in areas such as finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, low carbon, health, and digital innovation. Stressing the need to uphold universal security, Mr. Xi said the six countries should jointly implement the Global Security Initiative. The six countries should resolutely oppose external interference in the internal affairs of regional countries and attempts to instigate 'color revolutions,' and maintain a zero-tolerance stance against the 'three forces' of terrorism, separatism and extremism, Xi said. Underscoring the need to uphold everlasting friendship, Xi said the six countries should implement the Global Civilization Initiative. They should carry forward their traditional friendship, promote personnel exchanges, strengthen exchanges of governance experience, enhance mutual learning among civilizations, and advance mutual understanding, he noted, according to Xinhua. China Briefing says the China-Central Asia Summit is being held in Xi'an, with Beijing emphasizing the importance of the upcoming consultations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the summit will be one of the two main events of this year (the second is the Belt and Road Initiative forum). The leaders of the six countries are also meeting in person for the first time, with previous discussions being held via video link, and is taking place at nearly the same time as the G7 summit is being held in Japan. Russia is a keen observer of the summit, with all of the attendees bar China either members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), or Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Andrey Kazantsev, professor at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the Moscow State Research University, Higher School of Economics, believes that there will be no revolutionary decisions at the summit. Sergei Lukonin, head of the Chinese Economics and Politics Department at IMEMO RAS, considers that it is not worth talking about the intensification of competition between Russia and China. According to him, Beijing plays an important role in the region's economy, but Russia also remains in the leading position. 'In addition, Russia is indispensable in terms of security and strategic stability. Moscow and Beijing rather than compete, but complement each other' he said.
Source: Asia Plus