China Hosts Central Asia Summit in Xi’an
The China-Central Asia Summit to Strengthen Partnership
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced that the China-Central Asia Summit will be held on May 18-19 in Xi’an, the administrative center of Shaanxi Province. The Forum will be hosted by President Xi Jinping and attended by the leaders of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The summit aims to strengthen political mutual trust and strategic partnership between China and the Central Asian countries, particularly as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Central Asia has been a significant partner for China in its Belt and Road Initiative, with China investing heavily in infrastructure projects in the region.
On the eve of the summit, the first details emerged about the construction of a new branch of the Turkmenistan—China gas pipeline, which also passes through the territory of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The project highlights the importance of cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries for economic development.
The China-Central Asia Summit seeks to further boost cooperation in various areas such as energy, trade, security, and regional stability. With China’s growing influence in the region, the summit signifies the importance of the Central Asian countries’ role in China’s foreign policy.
