China is ready to coordinate development strategies with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and promote the modernization of all, President Xi said in an address to a China-Central Asia Summit on Friday in northwest China, China Daily newspaper reported.
The inaugural China-Central Asia Summit held a round-table meeting in Xi'an attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Head of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Head of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.
During the summit, the sides agreed to strengthen an institutional building by establishing meeting and dialogue mechanisms on foreign affairs, economy, trade, customs, industry and investment, agriculture, transportation, emergency response, education, and political parties. Trade facilitation measures, upgraded bilateral investment treaties, and "green lanes" for streamlined customs clearance of agricultural products will be implemented.
China will increase the volume of cross-border cargo transportation, support the development of the trans-Caspian international transport corridor, enhance the traffic capacity of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway and the China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan highway, and move forward consultations on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
President Xi Jinping proposed the establishment of a China-Central Asia energy development partnership, as well as the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali land and water-saving irrigation, and tackling the Aral Sea crisis to promote green innovation.
China will also provide Central Asian countries with 26 billion yuan ($3.8 billion) of financing support and grants to bolster cooperation and development in the region.
Furthermore, a "Cultural Silk Road" program will be established to strengthen dialogue between civilizations, and more traditional medicine centers will be set up in Central Asia. China also offered to help Central Asian countries strengthen capacity building on law enforcement, security, and defense, as well as support their efforts to safeguard regional security. “We will launch the China-Central Asia Cultural and Tourism Capital program, and open special train services for cultural tourism in Central Asia'', President Xi said.
According to Akorda.kz, Kazakhstan will host the next China-Central Asia Summit in 2025.
