China, Central Asia sign landmark treaty for cooperation in the region and promote development.
China and the five Central Asian nations officially signed a treaty on Tuesday committing to permanent good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation, solidifying their long-term friendship through a legally binding agreement.
The signing took place in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, during the second China-Central Asia Summit, where President Xi Jinping joined the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
In his speech at the summit, President Xi highlighted that China’s cooperation with Central Asia is deeply rooted in over 2,000 years of historical exchanges, strengthened by decades of diplomatic ties, and driven by mutual trust and open, win-win collaboration in the modern era.
As global uncertainty grows, Xi emphasized that fairness, justice, and mutual benefit must remain central to global cooperation, arguing that these values are key to maintaining peace and fostering shared progress.
He cautioned that trade wars and protectionist policies benefit no one, stressing that unilateralism and hegemonic behavior will ultimately backfire, harming global interests.
Xi urged humanity not to revert to the “law of the jungle,” but to move forward united, advocating for building a shared future for all of mankind rather than fostering division or regression.
He credited the success of China-Central Asia ties to a spirit based on mutual respect, trust, benefit, and support, principles that have helped both sides pursue modernization through high-quality development.
Xi called for carrying forward this cooperative spirit with renewed energy and practical actions, accelerating Belt and Road projects, and advancing towards a regional community with a shared future.
Reaffirming that Central Asia remains a key priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said China engages with the region on the basis of equality, sincerity, and shared prosperity, guided by principles of amity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness.
He also suggested refining the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism to make it more results-driven and better integrated, with a focus on trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, modern agriculture, and people-to-people ties.
To support this vision, Xi announced a 1.5 billion yuan ($209 million) grant for livelihood and development projects in Central Asia this year, and 3,000 training opportunities for professionals from the region over the next two years.
The summit was attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, who praised the China-Central Asia platform for enhancing regional development and stability.
They acknowledged the growing importance of this mechanism in a volatile global environment, noting that China’s strength and prosperity are creating tangible benefits for its neighbors.
Calling China a strategic partner and dependable friend, the Central Asian leaders expressed eagerness to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Beijing, aiming to turn the mechanism into a regional model for collaboration.
They committed to working closely with China to uphold free trade, support multilateralism, and defend global fairness and justice.
At the summit, leaders signed the Astana Declaration of the second China-Central Asia Summit and witnessed the launch of three specialized cooperation centers focusing on poverty reduction, education exchange, and desertification control. A new platform to promote smooth trade was also launched, and it was agreed that China would host the third summit.
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