WHEN attending the China-Central Asia Summit on Friday in Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, the heads of state of five Central Asian countries spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

They would take the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an opportunity to advance regional connectivity, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the synergy of the potentials of the Central Asian countries with the enormous economic opportunities of China is able to lead bilateral partnerships onto a new, higher trajectory, and that comprehensive cooperation with China is a long-term stabilizing factor for Kazakhstan’s continuous progress.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said the summit will deepen the traditional friendly relations between the five Central Asian countries and China. The Xi’an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit, reached through coordination and efforts of all parties, sets the basic direction for cooperation and is in line with the common interests of the long-term development of all parties.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said that the international situation is complex and rapidly changing, and threats and challenges facing the region and the wider world are on the rise, making cooperation among the six countries within the framework of the China-Central Asia Summit all the more important. Tajikistan supports multilateral cooperation within the framework of the China-Central Asia Summit, he said.

Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said that Central Asia and China have always had amity between their peoples, pragmatic cooperation and a good-neighborly friendship. The comprehensive potential of the five Central Asian countries and China, together with strong resource endowment, industrial foundation and technological reserve, opens up broad prospects for the economic development of both sides, he said.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that under the complex international situation, the development of the Central Asian region faces various challenges, and that it is imperative to continue the fine tradition of unity and cooperation and lay a solid foundation for common prosperity and development in the new era.(Xinhua)