Xi Jinping’s Central Asia Trip Guides SCO Development and Strengthens Regional Ties
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Central Asia has been pivotal in guiding the development direction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), deepening China’s good-neighborly relations with regional countries, and advancing the substantial building of a community with a shared future among neighboring countries. This was stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made these remarks during a press briefing on President Xi’s attendance at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, along with his state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan this week.
During the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and the SCO+ meeting, President Xi highlighted that the SCO stands on the right side of history, fairness, and justice, emphasizing its significant role in the world. Xi called on the SCO, in light of new situations and challenges, to ensure security, safeguard development rights, consolidate unity, and strive to build a shared home characterized by solidarity, mutual trust, peace, tranquility, prosperity, development, good-neighborliness, and justice.
Regarding Xi’s visit to Kazakhstan, Wang noted that the heads of state of China and Kazakhstan reaffirmed their strong political will to promote the building of a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future and devised new plans to usher in a new “golden 30 years” of bilateral relations. China remains steadfast in its commitment to the China-Kazakhstan friendship, advancing cooperation across the board, continuing mutual support on core issues, and realizing development goals for both countries.
During Xi’s visit to Tajikistan, Wang highlighted that Xi has met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon 15 times since the beginning of the new era. This state visit marked the announcement of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Tajikistan and the joint building of a community with a shared future from a higher starting point. President Rahmon reiterated that China is a great neighbor of Tajikistan, and Xi’s visit marks another important milestone in their bilateral relations. Xi also attended the inauguration of a parliament building and a government building aided by China with President Rahmon and awarded him the “Friendship Medal,” China’s highest state honor for foreigners.
At the SCO summit in Astana, President Xi held intensive bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders. Leaders from various countries expressed their hope to learn from China’s governance experience and accelerate their modernization processes. They firmly stated their adherence to the one-China principle and opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence.” The leaders also highly commended the proposition of building a community with a shared future for mankind and a series of global initiatives proposed by Xi.
