The China–Central Asia Cooperation Secretariat has been launched in Xi'an
The opening of the China–Central Asia Cooperation Secretariat took place in Xi'an, China (Shaanxi Province). The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Sun Weidong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shaanxi Province Zhao Yide, heads of diplomatic missions of five Central Asian countries accredited to the People's Republic of China, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan Parahat Durdyev.
In his welcoming message, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov expressed gratitude for the joint efforts of the participants in the establishment of this structure, and stressed "the readiness of the Turkmen side to continue to make a significant contribution to expanding and strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Central Asia–China format".
Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said that the creation of the secretariat within the framework of the PRC-CA mechanism marks the practical implementation of the consensus reached by the heads of China and Central Asia, and also demonstrates the firm determination of the six countries to jointly strive to continue actively developing cooperation.
During the opening ceremony, the executive director of the new structure, Wu Yingqin, announced promising plans to establish a number of institutions to promote partnership in various areas.
...The decision to establish the secretariat as a mechanism for cooperation in the China–Central Asia format was recorded in the relevant declaration at the first summit of the heads of state of the People's Republic of China and Central Asia, which was held in the same Xi'an in May last year.
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