Translated with AI
Developing the “China-Central Asia Spirit” for High-Quality Development of Regional Cooperation
Keynote speech at the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit
Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping
Dear Mr. President Tokayev,
Dear colleagues, friends,
I am very pleased to meet you in the beautiful city of Astana to participate in the second China-Central Asia Summit. I thank President Tokayev and the Government of Kazakhstan for the warm welcome and hospitality.
Two years ago, in Xi'an, we outlined the contours of cooperation in the China-Central Asia format. The six pomegranate trees that we planted together are already blooming profusely – this is, perhaps, living evidence of the high dynamics of cooperation between our countries.
Over the past two years, China's cooperation with Central Asian countries has been steadily increasing and deepening within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, trade turnover has increased by 35%, cooperation in the field of industry and investment, green subsoil use and scientific and technological innovations is gaining momentum. With financial support from the Chinese side, a number of projects are being implemented at full speed. More and more Chinese electric vehicles and photovoltaic products are appearing in Central Asia, from where honey, fruits, wheat and poultry meat end up on the tables of ordinary Chinese people.
Over the past two years, the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has been officially launched, and work on the plan to build the third cross-border railway between China and Kazakhstan has advanced. Work on upgrading the second phase of the China-Tajikistan highway is proceeding smoothly, and energy cooperation between China and Turkmenistan is steadily developing. Container trains are connecting more and more Chinese cities with Central Asian countries. The quality and capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor is improving. Green industry, digital economy, artificial intelligence, aerospace and aviation industries are becoming new growth areas for cooperation. Cooperation in new industries such as cross-border e-commerce and online education brings benefits to the peoples of our six countries.
Over the past two years, progress has been made in the work on mutual establishment of cultural centers, opening of branches of Chinese universities and "Lu Ban Workshops". China has established a visa-free regime with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, due to which the number of mutual trips of citizens of China and Kazakhstan exceeded 1.2 million last year. The Year of Tourism, the Year of Culture and the Central Asian Art Festival are very popular with the Chinese people. And Chinese TV series such as "Minning City" and "My Altai" have caused a wide resonance among Central Asian viewers. The China-CA tourist trains have successfully launched. And today we will witness that the number of sister city pairs between China and the Central Asian countries exceeds 100.
Over these two years, within the framework of our format, 13 cooperation platforms have been created at the ministerial level, the Secretariat has begun full-scale operation, and the architecture of cooperation has been generally formed.
It is gratifying to note that our agreements following the first China-Central Asia summit are landing with a wide scope, from the ancient capital of Xi'an to the pearl city of the steppes of Astana, from the shores of the Yellow Sea to the Caspian coast, from the foothills of the Tien Shan to the Pamir highlands. Thus, cooperation in this format is being filled with new content, and our friendship is only flourishing.
Dear colleagues, friends!
Our cooperation is rooted in more than two thousand years of friendly relations, consolidated by the solidarity and mutual trust that has been established for 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and has made great progress thanks to mutually beneficial cooperation in the new era. Many years of experience and practice have enabled us to develop and shape the "China-Central Asia Spirit", which is characterized by mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual assistance, and the promotion of joint modernization through high-quality development.
It is important to adhere to the principles of mutual respect and equality. All states are equal regardless of size, issues should be resolved through consultations and decisions should be made by consensus.
It is important to strengthen mutual trust and act in unison, firmly support each other in defending independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and refrain from any actions that harm each other's key interests.
It is important to adhere to the course of mutual benefit and joint development, to regard each other as a priority partner and provide each other with opportunities for development, to take into account the interests of all parties in order to achieve mutual benefit and joint prosperity.
It is important to support each other in the spirit of mutual assistance, including the right to choose a development path in accordance with one's own realities. As one's own development advances, it is important to consolidate efforts to overcome all kinds of risks and challenges in the interests of protecting security and stability in the region.
The "China-Central Asia Spirit" serves as the guiding principle for maintaining the centuries-old friendship and cooperation between our countries. Ensuring its strict observance and further development is our common task.
Dear colleagues, friends!
A new period of global upheaval and transformation has arrived amidst changes in the international environment unprecedented in the last century. Only an unwavering commitment to the principles of equality, fairness, mutual benefit and win-win will help maintain world peace and achieve shared prosperity. There will be no winners in a tariff or trade war. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will harm others and oneself.
I always emphasize that it is impossible to turn the wheel of history back, it is only important to move forward. We need a united world, not a divided one. Humanity must develop in the mainstream of building a community of common destiny, and not under the rule of the law of the jungle.
Three years ago, you and I announced the establishment of a community of shared destiny between China and Central Asia, thereby defining the goals and direction for deepening mutual understanding, overcoming challenges and ensuring the joint development of the six countries. I see the need to be guided by the "Spirit of China – Central Asia", take a more proactive approach to strengthening practical cooperation, promote high-quality cooperation in implementing the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, and confidently move towards building a community of shared destiny.
First, to be committed to the moral values of cooperation, which are based on mutual trust and mutual assistance. China always considers Central Asia as one of the priorities of foreign policy in relations with neighboring countries, adheres to the course of building good, trusting, mutually beneficial and inclusive relations so that neighboring countries live in peace, harmony and prosperity. In the same spirit, we develop relations with Central Asian partners on the principles of equality and sincerity, we will always wish goodness and happiness to our neighbors.
The Treaty of Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation that we will sign today will legally enshrine the principle of eternal friendship. This is another milestone in the history of relations between the six countries, and at the same time a remarkable achievement of Chinese neighborhood diplomacy that has been achieved now and can be used for a long time to benefit in the future.
Second, improve the architecture of cooperation that is pragmatic, effective and deeply integrated. We have decided to declare 2025-2026 as the Years of High-Quality Development of China-Central Asia Cooperation. It is important to focus on areas such as smooth trade, industry and investment, transport connectivity, green subsoil use, agricultural modernization and mutual travel of citizens, and implement more specific projects in order to achieve early results in the shortest possible time.
We are ready to share development experience and the latest technological achievements with the Central Asian states, promote digital infrastructure communications, expand cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, and cultivate productive forces of a new quality.
In order to enhance cooperation in relevant areas, China has decided to establish a poverty alleviation center, an educational exchange and cooperation center, a desertification control center, and a platform for creating favorable conditions for trade within the framework of the China-Central Asia format. We are ready to provide the Central Asian countries with a non-repayable grant of 1.5 billion yuan this year to support significant projects of the five countries to improve the well-being of their population and promote their own development. We also intend to provide the Central Asian countries with 3,000 quotas for participation in vocational training courses over the next two years.
Third, it is important to establish an indivisible security architecture that ensures long-term tranquility and peace. It is necessary to strengthen regional security governance, continue to deepen cooperation in law enforcement and security, jointly prevent and counter the spread of extremist ideology, firmly combat the three evil forces, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
The Chinese side supports the efforts of the Central Asian states aimed at modernizing defense, law enforcement and security, is ready to provide the five countries with all possible assistance in the fight against terrorism and cross-border organized crime, as well as in ensuring cyber and biosecurity, and is interested in implementing large-scale “Safe City” projects and conducting joint exercises and training.
Afghanistan is our close neighbor. We must intensify cooperation so that Afghanistan can embark on the path of independent development and achieve peace, stability, recovery and development in the shortest possible time.
Fourth, to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties based on spiritual closeness and common aspirations. We are determined to intensify cooperation with Central Asian partners through legislative bodies, political parties, women, youth, media, think tanks, etc., to conduct a thorough exchange of experience in the field of public administration, in particular on issues of green development, poverty reduction and the fight against corruption.
We are ready to establish more Chinese cultural centers, branches of Chinese universities and Lu Ban Workshops in Central Asia, open a course in teaching Central Asian languages at universities, and continue the successful practice within the framework of the China-Central Asia Advanced Training Program for training specialists from Central Asian countries.
We support the deepening of interregional cooperation between China and Central Asia, intend to build a bridge of friendship through sister city and humanitarian ties, and jointly form a scheme of “spiritual closeness” with the broadest coverage, be it intergovernmental and interregional, official and unofficial contacts, and right up to adjacent regions.
I hope that the measures agreed upon today to facilitate mutual travel will be quickly implemented, and the peoples of our countries will travel to each other more conveniently and comfortably, and communicate more often as family and friends.
Fifth, safeguard a fair, rational, equitable and orderly international order. China supports the growing role of Central Asian states in international affairs, and is ready to join forces with all partners in upholding international justice, in the fight against hegemony and power politics, and in promoting an equitable and orderly multipolar world, and accessible and inclusive economic globalization.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people in the war against Japanese aggressors and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. During the difficult years of the war, the peoples of China and Central Asia extended a hand to each other, shared sorrows and joys, and made a major contribution to the just cause of mankind. We must uphold historical truth, protect the results of World War II, and support the UN-centric world order so that international peace and development are more stable and predictable.
Dear colleagues, friends,
At present, we in China are comprehensively promoting the construction of a powerful state and the great cause of national revival. No matter how the international situation changes, China has been and remains committed to the policy of external openness, is ready to carry out higher-quality cooperation with its Central Asian partners, and deepen the integration of interests for the sake of joint development.
Dear colleagues, friends,
As the Chinese proverb says, "Live in love and harmony." I know that the people of Central Asia also have such wisdom: "Harmony and unity are happiness and wealth." We are ready to multiply the "China-Central Asia Spirit" with all partners, and, following the task of creating a community of common destiny, achieve greater success in developing cooperation between China and Central Asia.
Thank you for your attention.
