President Xi Jinping will host a two-day summit with the leaders of five Central Asian nations next week, Beijing said on Monday (May 8). As China moves to increase its influence in the region.
China’s foreign ministry announced that they expect the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to attend the China-Central Asia Summit from May 18 to May 19.
The summit in the city of Xi’an is the first of its kind according to Chinese state media. Also will focus on strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.
China, the world’s second-largest energy consumer, has invested billions of dollars to tap natural gas reserves in Central Asia.
Rail links connecting China to Europe crisscross the region and are key to the success of Xi’s trillion-dollar global infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative.
Beijing adheres to a policy of “good neighbourliness and friendship” with regard to Central Asia. Foreign Minister Qin Gang said during a meeting with his regional counterparts in northwestern Xi’an last month.
INCREASES GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS
“All parties reiterated … firm mutual support on issues concerning each others’ core interests, stern opposition to external interference in internal affairs. Also resolute rejection of force creating chaos and turbulence in Central Asia,”. According to a Chinese foreign ministry report on the meeting
Moscow dominated the republics of Central Asia since the mid-19th century. As they were part of the Soviet Union.
But Russia’s influence has been increasingly challenged since its invasion of Ukraine, with Beijing courting Moscow’s traditional allies in the region.
In 2022, China’s exports to Central Asia grew 60 per cent year-on-year to US$1.4 billion. According to data released by the Chinese Ministry of commerce last month.
In September last year, Xi travelled to Kazakhstan on his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries, including Kazakhstan, that border China’s north-western region of Xinjiang, have remained quiet over accusations of human rights violations by Beijing targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities