Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (May 19th) unveiled an ambitious plan to help take Central Asia to the next level of development – ​​from building infrastructure networks to boosting trade – while avoiding “external interference”.

China is ready to support development strategies with the five Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and make joint efforts to promote the modernization of all six countries, Xi said. in a speech at the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China.

“The world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious and well-connected,” Xi said.

At the same time, the six countries should oppose “external interference” in the internal affairs of regional countries and attempts to incite “color revolutions”, as well as maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards terrorism, separatism and extremism, Xi warned.

“China is ready to help Central Asian countries improve law enforcement, security and build defense capabilities,” Xi said.

The two-day summit in the historic Silk Road city of Xi’an has been portrayed by Chinese state media as a triumph of China’s regional diplomacy, with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan previously pledging support in Beijing and have promised deeper bilateral cooperation.

The show of solidarity by China’s Central Asian neighbors is expected to contrast sharply with the “negative” image of Beijing that will be presented at the Group of Seven leaders’ summit in Hiroshima at the weekend.

The high-profile expression of confidence from China’s neighbors will serve to counter US accusations of Beijing’s coercive diplomacy. Xi’s gathering of five heads of state on Chinese soil without Russian President Vladimir Putin also seemingly draws Central Asia closer to the Chinese sphere of influence as Moscow remains focused on the war in Ukraine.

China and Central Asian countries should deepen strategic mutual trust and always provide “clear and strong support” to each other on issues of core interests such as those concerning sovereignty, independence, national dignity and long-term growth, Xi said. He did not, however, mention war-torn Ukraine, which, like the Central Asian countries, was a former Soviet state.

Trade and investment

China will upgrade bilateral investment agreements with Central Asian countries and increase the volume of cross-border freight transport with the region in an all-round way, Xi said.

Beijing will encourage Chinese-funded enterprises in Central Asia to create more local jobs, build overseas warehouses in the region and launch a special rail service aimed at promoting cultural tourism with Central Asia, he added.

Two-way trade between China and Central Asia hit a record $70 billion last year, with Kazakhstan leading the way with $31 billion, as China seeks deeper economic ties in its quest for greater food and energy security.

In Xi’an, Kazakhstan and China signed 47 agreements worth $22 billion, the Astana Times wrote. During his visit, the President of Kazakhstan Kashim-Zhomart Tokayev attended the opening ceremony of the construction of Kazakhstan’s logistics center in the dry port of Xi’an.

Xi said the construction of Line D of the China-Central Asia Natural Gas Pipeline should be accelerated.

He also called on China and Central Asia to increase oil and gas trade, develop energy cooperation in all industrial chains, and strengthen cooperation in the field of new energy and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Further afield, China supports the construction of an international transport corridor crossing the Caspian Sea, and China will boost the construction of China-Europe freight train hubs, Xi said.