The 6th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Central Asia–China format was held in Almaty on April 26, attended by the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, China Wang Yi, Kyrgyzstan Zheenbek Kulubaev, Tajikistan Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, and a representative of Turkmenistan.
The meeting focused on strengthening political dialog, expanding trade and economic ties, developing transport interconnectivity, jointly combating challenges and threats, as well as sustainable development and environmental security in the region. Proposals to improve the architecture of multilateral interaction between Central Asia and China on the principles of mutual respect and equality were discussed.
The sides emphasized the need for balanced approaches to modern challenges and agreed on steps towards mutually beneficial development.
Kazakhstan’s Minister Nurtleu in his speech emphasized the importance of strengthening the multilateral format Central Asia–China, focusing on the need to further expand cooperation in key areas to ensure stability in the region.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, put forward five proposals from the Chinese side for deepening China-Central Asia cooperation, Xinhua reported.
First, be firm in upholding good faith and fostering harmony. Second, stick to mutually beneficial cooperation. Third, continue to advance institutional development. Fourth, adhere to fairness and justice. And fifth, be firm in friendship for generations.
The foreign ministers from Central Asian countries said that each country is ready to strengthen the synergy between their national development strategies and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, jointly combat the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and transnational crime, so as to maintain regional peace and stability.
All sides agreed that China serves as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world, and has demonstrated leadership in supporting multilateralism. They also expressed support for international trade rules and their rejection of unilateral protectionist practices.
Photo: gov.kz
