On the 17th, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, where he signed "Permanent Good-Neighborly Friendship Cooperation Treaties" with five Central Asian countries. He also witnessed the unveiling of three cooperation centers and trade facilitation cooperation platforms between China and Central Asia, and announced the provision of 1.5 billion RMB (886 million MYR) in grants to Central Asian countries for livelihood and development projects. In his keynote speech, Xi stated that tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and protectionism and hegemonism are destined to harm others and themselves. He emphasized that the world should not be divided and must unite.
The China-Central Asia Summit is a diplomatic summit held between China and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The first summit was held in May 2023 in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The 2nd summit was held on the 17th at the Palace of Independence in the Kazakh capital, Astana.
In his keynote speech, Xi stated that the long-standing friendly exchanges between China and Central Asian countries have formed the "China-Central Asia Spirit" of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual support": countries, regardless of size, are treated equally and decisions are made based on consensus; there is firm support for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity, and no actions are taken that harm each other's core interests.
"I have always advocated that history should not go backward, it should move forward; the world should not be divided, it should unite; humanity should not return to the law of the jungle, it should build a community with a shared future for mankind." Xi pointed out that currently, the world is entering a new period of turbulence and change. Only by maintaining a heart of fairness and justice and a commitment to mutual benefit and win-win can world peace be maintained, and common development achieved. Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners; unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism are destined to harm others and themselves.
He announced that China and the five Central Asian countries have signed "Permanent Good-Neighborly Friendship Cooperation Treaties," legally formalizing the principles of generational friendship, describing it as a new milestone in the history of the six countries' relationships and an innovative move in China's diplomacy with neighboring countries. Additionally, it was agreed that 2025-2026 would be the "China-Central Asia Cooperation High-Quality Development Year," focusing on trade facilitation, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization, and personnel exchanges, with more specific projects to be implemented.
●Israel Intensifies Middle East Tensions
During the summit, Xi Jinping met with Uzbek President Mirziyoyev and, for the first time, discussed the Middle East situation. He stated that Israel's military actions against Iran have sharply intensified tensions in the Middle East, and China is deeply concerned about this, opposing any actions that violate the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of other countries.
Xi emphasized that military conflict is not the way to solve problems, and escalating regional tensions do not serve the common interests of the international community. All parties should work to quickly cool down the conflict and avoid further escalation of tensions. China is willing to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.