China and the leaders of five Central Asia nations will convene a major conference, the first in-person China-Central Asia Summit, on May 18-19 in Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province, China. Of note, Xi’an is the city from which the Han Dynasty’s Zhang Qian launched the ancient Silk Road 2,100 years ago. The leaders from the five Central Asian nations attending include: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov; Tajik President Emomali Rahmon; Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov; and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Chinese President Xi Jinping will chair the meeting.
Four of the five central Asian leaders arrived in China today, making state visits to China, in which they will have one-on-one meetings with Chinese President Xi. (Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov held a state visit with Xi in January of this year). Then, on May 18, during the summit, President Xi will present a grand development plan for this critical region.
Today Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, at a morning press conference, gave an overview of what China and these five nations have accomplished through the Belt and Road Initiative:
“Over the past decade, we have jointly implemented a number of major projects which have benefited the region and its people in various ways. The China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center and the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Base in Lianyungang have been completed, providing a gateway to the Pacific for Central Asian countries. The Chinese-built tunnel of the Angren-Pap railway line, the longest tunnel in Central Asia, saved local residents the trouble of climbing through the mountains or taking a detour via neighboring countries. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) highway has become an important international transportation route that runs smoothly through the region’s mountainous terrain. Four-fifths of the China-Europe Railway Express trains run through Central Asia. They are a steel caravan for the Eurasian continent. Last year, the total trade volume between China and Central Asian countries hit a record high of $70 billion. These tangible outcomes lay a solid foundation for the two sides’ continued commitment to mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, mutual support in times of difficulties and win-win cooperation.”
