A video summit dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the countries of Central Asia was held on Tuesday, January 25. The meeting was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The parties analyzed the development of relations over the past 30 years and the results of successful cooperation between China and the five countries of Central Asia, which is based on mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, solidarity and mutually beneficial economic ties.

China is ready to open super-large markets for Central Asian countries, import more high-quality goods and agricultural products from Central Asian countries, Xi Jinping said. China also proposes to set up an e-commerce cooperation dialogue mechanism and hold an industrial and investment cooperation forum.

The Chinese leader noted the importance of the stable operation of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline and the expansion of cooperation along the entire energy industry chain, as well as cooperation in high-tech areas such as artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing.

China is ready to continue to supply vaccines and anti-epidemic agents to the countries of Central Asia, to expand joint production and technology transfer of vaccines and specific drugs. China will provide another 50 million doses of vaccine to Central Asian countries in 2022, Xi Jinping said.

In addition, China intends to provide 1,200 government scholarships to five Central Asian countries over the next five years and organize events such as the China-Central Asia Youth Art Festival and others.

The heads of state of the five Central Asian countries thanked China for initiating and hosting this historic video summit and praised China's development achievements.

The parties agreed to consider the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides as a new starting point for the development of a strategic partnership, expressing a strong commitment to mutual support.

The presidents also noted that they look forward to attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in China next week.

The summit adopted and issued a Joint Statement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the leaders of China and the five countries of Central Asia.

ORIENT news