China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Concludes with Enhanced Cooperation and Strategic Consensus
Chengdu, The Gulf Observer: The 5th China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting concluded on Sunday in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, with a pledge to deepen mutual trust and strengthen all-round cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, summarized the outcomes during a joint press briefing with foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Wang emphasized that the meeting laid a solid foundation for the upcoming 2nd China-Central Asia Summit, scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan next year. Discussions also outlined the framework for continued collaboration across a range of sectors.
Key Consensus Reached
Minister Wang outlined five key agreements reached during the meeting:
- Enhanced Cooperation through Leadership Guidance
The six nations reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering the China-Central Asia mechanism under the guidance of their heads of state, striving to make it a model for regional collaboration. - Pursuit of Modernization and Sectoral Collaboration
Cooperation will be expanded in critical areas such as applications of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, poverty alleviation, desertification control, higher education, and cultural exchanges. These efforts aim to create robust platforms for knowledge-sharing and development. - Regional Peace and Security
The ministers pledged to uphold regional stability by implementing China’s Global Security Initiative, opposing external interference in Central Asian affairs, and supporting Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction. - Mutual Learning and Talent Development
To strengthen ties, China committed to providing 1,500 training opportunities and 600 additional scholarships for students from Central Asian countries over the next three years, addressing critical talent needs across the region. - Multilateralism and Global South Solidarity
The six countries agreed to uphold international equity, resist economic “decoupling,” and enhance coordination within international and regional platforms, including full support for China’s rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Looking Ahead
The meeting underscored the importance of shared goals in modernization, peace, and regional integration. The six nations also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting solidarity among developing countries and advancing mutual interests on the global stage.
With China at the helm of the SCO presidency, the ministers expressed optimism for elevated regional cooperation and new milestones in the organization’s development.
