Central Asian leaders gather in China, Beijing takes advantage to show friendship

On May 18, leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in the historic city of Xi'an (China) to participate in the China-Central Asia Summit.

China-Central Asia Online Summit to Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in 2022. (Source: THX)

Central Asian leaders will also hold direct bilateral talks with host President Xi Jinping to make pledges of "lasting" friendship, while the summit is expected to lead to the signing of a regional agreement with Beijing.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that at the first face-to-face talks of the six leaders, Xi Jinping will deliver an "important" speech and "important" political documents will be signed.

Across the Silk Road city of Xi'an, banners, billboards and even taxi signs were used to promote the summit, some in both Chinese and Russian.

* At his first meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that Beijing wants to further deepen relations with Astana based on mutual trust in both "prosperity and adversity".

"Your state visit to China demonstrates the high level of relations between the two countries and once again confirms the inseparable ties with Beijing," Xi Jinping told Tokayev.

President Xi Jinping called on the two countries to "promote the building of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future featuring generation-to-generation friendship, a high degree of mutual trust, and together in prosperity and hardship."

President Tokayev of Kazakhstan, a vast steppe nation rich in energy and agriculture, was the first of five Central Asian leaders to arrive in the northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an.

* On May 18, Mr. Xi Jinping held talks with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and expressed his welcome for the leader to come to China to attend the summit as well as make a state visit.

According to the Chinese President, it is Mr. Japarov's active work to develop the economy, improve people's welfare and promote reconciliation between different political forces since taking office that has helped the leader gain the support of the Kyrgyz people.

Noting that China-Kyrgyzstan relations have gone through 31 years, Xi Jinping said Beijing is willing to work with Bishkek to build a China-Kyrgyzstan community of shared destiny, good neighbors and common prosperity, carry out cooperation in all areas, and contribute to the development and vitality of both countries.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lanh-dao-cac-nuoc-trung-a-te-tuu-tai-trung-quoc-bac-kinh-tranh-thu-the-hien-tinh-ban-227582.html