Keynote speech at the China Asia Summit
(May 19, 2023)
Xi Jinping, President of the President of the People's Republic of China
Article source: Xinhua News Agency Release time: May 22, 2023 09:05
 

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, friends:
Welcome everyone to Xi'an to attend the China Central Asia Summit and discuss cooperation plans between China and the five Central Asian countries.
Xi'an, formerly known as Chang'an, is one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation, and also the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road. More than 2100 years ago, Chinese Han Dynasty envoy Zhang Qian set out from Chang'an to the Western Regions, opening the door to friendly exchanges between China and Central Asia. For thousands of years, China, along with the people of all ethnic groups in Central Asia, has promoted the rise and prosperity of the Silk Road, making historic contributions to the exchange, integration, and enrichment of world civilizations. Chinese Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once wrote a poem that goes, "Let's work together again in Chang'an, and consider the importance of thousands of gold. Today we gather in Xi'an to continue our millennium old friendship and open up a new future, which is of great significance.
  For the past 10 years, China and Central Asian countries have worked together to promote the comprehensive revitalization of the Silk Road, and have made every effort to create deep cooperation for the future, bringing the bilateral relationship into a new era.
The China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Highway across Tianshan Mountains, the China Tajikistan Highway to conquer the Pamir Mountains Plateau, the China Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline across the vast desert are the contemporary "Silk Road"; The Trans-Eurasia Logistics, which runs day and night, the freight cars on the way, and the non-stop air flights are contemporary "camel caravans"; Entrepreneurs looking for business opportunities, medical staff fighting against the COVID-19, cultural workers delivering the voice of friendship, and overseas students seeking from top to bottom are contemporary ambassadors of friendship.
The relationship between China and Central Asian countries has a profound historical origin, extensive practical needs, and a solid foundation of public opinion, which has shown great vitality and vitality in the new era.
 Dear Colleagues,
Currently, the century long changes are accelerating their evolution, and the world, times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. Central Asia is the center of the Eurasian continent, located at a crossroads that connects east and west and runs through north and south.
The world needs a stable Central Asia. The sovereignty, security, independence, and territorial integrity of Central Asian countries must be safeguarded, the development path chosen by the Central Asian people must be respected, and the efforts of the Central Asian region to promote peace, harmony, and tranquility must be supported.
The world needs a prosperous Central Asia. A vibrant and thriving Central Asia will achieve the aspirations of people from all countries in the region for a better life and inject strong impetus into the recovery and development of the world economy.
The world needs a harmonious Central Asia. "Brotherhood trumps all wealth.". Ethnic conflicts, religious disputes, and cultural barriers are not the main themes of Central Asia, but unity, inclusiveness, and harmony are the pursuit of the people of Central Asia. No one has the right to create discord or confrontation in Central Asia, let alone seek political gain from it.
The world needs a connected Central Asia. Central Asia has a unique geographical advantage, with the foundation, conditions, and ability to become an important connectivity hub for the Eurasian continent, contributing to world commodity exchange, cultural exchange, and technological development.
 Dear Colleagues,
Last year, when we held a video summit to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the five Central Asian countries, we jointly announced the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Central Asia. This is a historic Sexual selection that we have made in the new era with a view to the fundamental interests of all peoples and a bright future. To build a community with a shared future between China and Central Asia, we must adhere to the four principles.
One is to persist in watching and helping each other. We need to deepen strategic mutual trust, always provide clear and strong support to each other on core interests such as sovereignty, independence, national dignity, and long-term development, and work together to build a community of mutual assistance, unity, and trust.
The second is to adhere to common development. We will continue to take the lead in jointly building the "the Belt and Road" cooperation, promote the implementation of global development initiatives, fully release the potential of traditional cooperation in economy and trade, production capacity, energy, transportation, etc., create new strengths in finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, green low-carbon, health care, digital innovation, and work together to build a community of win-win cooperation and mutual achievements.
The third is to adhere to universal security. We should jointly implement the global security initiative, resolutely oppose external interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region, instigate the "Colour revolution", maintain zero tolerance for the "Three Evils", focus on solving the regional Security dilemma, and work together to build a community free from conflict and peaceful forever.
The fourth is to adhere to generational friendship. We need to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, continue traditional friendship, close personnel exchanges, strengthen the exchange of experience in governance, deepen mutual learning among civilizations, enhance mutual understanding, and build the cornerstone of friendship between China and the people of Central Asian countries for generations. We will work together to build a community of mutual understanding and solidarity.
 Dear Colleagues,
This summit has built a new platform and opened up new prospects for cooperation between China and Central Asia. China is willing to take the opportunity of hosting this summit and work closely with all parties to plan, build, and develop China Central Asia cooperation well.
One is to strengthen mechanism construction. We have established diplomatic, economic and trade, customs and other meeting mechanisms and industrialist committees. China also advocates the establishment of meetings and dialogue mechanisms in industries and investment, agriculture, transportation, emergency management, education, political parties, and other fields, to build a broad platform for countries to carry out comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The second is to expand economic and trade relations. China will introduce more trade facilitation measures, upgrade bilateral investment agreements, achieve full coverage of the "green channel" for rapid clearance of agricultural and sideline products at border ports between the two sides, hold the theme event of "aggregating cloud goods in Central Asia", create a commodity trading center, and promote trade scale to a new level.
The third is to deepen connectivity. China will comprehensively increase the cross-border transportation volume, support the construction of the Cross Caspian Sea International Transport Corridor, enhance the traffic capacity of the China Kyrgyzstan Ukraine and China Tajikistan Ukraine highways, and promote the docking and negotiation of the China Kyrgyzstan Ukraine railway project. Accelerate the modernization and transformation of existing ports, open more Biedieli ports, vigorously promote the opening of the air transportation market, and develop regional logistics networks. Strengthen the construction of Trans-Eurasia Logistics assembly center, encourage competitive enterprises to build overseas warehouses in Central Asian countries, and build an integrated digital service platform.
Fourth, expand energy cooperation. China proposes to establish a partnership for energy development between China and Central Asia, accelerate the construction of the D-line of the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline, expand the scale of oil and gas trade between the two sides, develop cooperation in the entire energy industry chain, and strengthen cooperation in new energy and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Fifth, promote green innovation. China is willing to cooperate with Central Asian countries in the fields of Alkali soil management and development, water-saving irrigation, etc., jointly build a joint laboratory for agriculture in dry areas, promote the solution of the Aral Sea ecological crisis, and support the establishment of high-tech enterprises and information technology industrial parks in Central Asia. China welcomes the participation of Central Asian countries in the "the Belt and Road" special cooperation plans such as sustainable development technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, and space information technology.
Six is to enhance development capabilities. China will develop a special cooperation plan for poverty reduction in science and technology between China and Central Asian countries, implement the "China Central Asian Technology Skills Enhancement Plan", establish more Luban workshops in Central Asian countries, and encourage Chinese enterprises in Central Asia to provide more employment opportunities for the local area. To assist China in cooperation with Central Asian countries and their own development, China will provide a total of 26 billion yuan in financing support and free assistance to Central Asian countries.
The seventh is to strengthen dialogue among civilizations. The Chinese side invited Central Asian countries to participate in the "Cultural Silk Road" plan. It will set up more Traditional medicine centers in Central Asia, speed up the mutual establishment of cultural centers, continue to provide government scholarships to Central Asian countries, support Central Asian universities to join the "Silk Road University Alliance", and successfully hold the People's Year of Culture and Arts between China and Central Asian countries and high-end dialogue and exchange activities between China and Central Asian media, Promote the selection activity of "China Central Asia Cultural and Tourism Capital" and launch a cultural tourism special train for Central Asia.
Eight is to maintain regional peace. China is willing to help Central Asian countries strengthen law enforcement security and defense capacity building, support countries in independently maintaining regional security and counter-terrorism efforts, and carry out cybersecurity cooperation. Continue to play the role of the coordination mechanism among Afghanistan's neighboring countries and jointly promote the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan.
 Dear Colleagues,
Last October, the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held, which defined the central task of building a strong socialist modernization country in an all-round way, achieving the second centennial goal, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese path to modernization, and drew a grand blueprint for China's future development. We are willing to strengthen the exchange of modernization concepts and practices with Central Asian countries, promote the docking of development strategies, create more opportunities for cooperation, and work together to promote the modernization process of the six countries.
 Dear Colleagues,
There is a farming saying in Shaanxi, China, 'As long as you have deep Kung Fu, gold comes out of the soil'. The Central Asian proverb also says, "If you give, you will get back, and if you sow, you will reap. Let's join hands and work together to actively promote common development, Common prosperity and prosperity, and jointly welcome a better tomorrow for the six countries!
Thank you all.