By He Yin, People’s Daily
On the afternoon of June 17 local time, the second China-Central Asia Summit was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the summit and delivered a keynote speech, where he proposed for the first time a China-Central Asia Spirit. He also outlined a comprehensive vision for advancing China-Central Asia cooperation. His remarks injected fresh momentum into the joint endeavor of building an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
The most prominent highlight of this summit is Xi’s announcement of the China-Central Asia Spirit of “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit, and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development.” The spirit distills the successful experience of China-Central Asia relations and encapsulates the shared principles and aspirations that underpin their cooperation. It is an important guideline for China and Central Asia to carry forward friendship and offer mutual support in times of need.
The principles of equality and shared aspirations embedded in this spirit explain the robust momentum of China-Central Asia cooperation. During the summit, the six heads of state jointly signed the Astana Declaration of the second China-Central Asia Summit, which stresses the importance to fully carry forward this spirit as a basis for developing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation under the China-Central Asia mechanism.
China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. The successful development of China-Central Asia relations fully demonstrates the vitality of the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.
Steeped in history, driven by broad actual needs, and built on solid popular support, the China-Central Asia mechanism has emerged as an effective platform for advancing China-Central Asia cooperation in a changing global landscape.
At a time when major countries are establishing dialogue mechanisms with Central Asian countries, the China-Central Asia mechanism has been widely recognized across the region for its efficiency, pragmatism, and tangible outcomes, becoming a model of regional cooperation.
Building on the full implementation of the outcomes from the first China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi’an, China, this second summit drew a comprehensive blueprint for the future of China-Central Asia cooperation.
The systematic approach to cooperation proposed by Xi will encourage both sides to engage with greater determination and pragmatism, thereby enhancing their capacity to jointly tackle risks and challenges while accelerating their drive toward modernization.
The Astana Declaration reaffirmed major political consensus among the six countries and a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation was signed to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law. In the face of global uncertainties, China-Central Asia relations offer a strong sense of direction and stability.
Today, unprecedented changes are unfolding at a faster pace across the globe, thrusting the world into a new state of heightened turbulence and volatility. The strategic importance of unity and cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries has become ever more evident.
History should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided. Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, the world should build a community with a shared future for mankind. The China-Central Asia cooperation stands as a powerful example of solidarity among Global South countries. It is not only central to their respective development and revitalization, but also essential to regional and global stability and prosperity.
At the summit, all participating countries expressed strong support for Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the three global initiatives – the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilizations Initiative. They voiced their commitment to enhancing coordination with China, upholding free trade and the multilateral trading system, and safeguarding international equity and justice. The growing consensus and alignment between China and Central Asia will contribute more positive energy to world peace and development.
A strong belief in fairness and justice and an unyielding commitment to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the only way to maintain world peace and achieve common development. China-Central Asia cooperation serves the interests of all six countries and reflects the trend of the times and the direction of history. As long as the six countries continue to work together, uphold the China-Central Asia Spirit, and stay focused on building a community with a shared future, they are bound to create a brighter future together.
