The China-Central Asia Summit held in the ancient city of Xi’an has carried on the rich history and splendid traditions of multiculturalism, free trade and shared benefits specified by the keynote speech delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the joint Xi’an Declaration.
Xi’s speech suggested numerous factors for further systemizing, streamlining and strengthening the aims of greater regional connectivity, immense socio-economic integration, eradication of terrorism in the region.
Xi rightly upheld that promotion and implementation of the holistic policies of building a Community with Shared Future. His Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilizational Initiative are necessary steps for achieving the desired goals of regional peace, stability and harmony between China and five countries of Central Asia
Xi rightly upheld that promotion and implementation of the holistic policies of building a Community with Shared Future. His Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilizational Initiative are necessary steps for achieving the desired goals of regional peace, stability and harmony between China and five countries of Central Asia.
At the end of the summit Xi together with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed and released the Xi'an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit.
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The declaration highlighted readiness of all the participating countries to build a closer community with a shared future. It is good omen that the five countries of the Central Asia agreed to expand cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and coordinate their respective development strategies with the BRI.
Xi’an Declaration has a holistic approach, covering all aspects of modern economic development, human survival, security and socio-economic development along with easy and smooth supplies of food and energy products, economic and transport or corridors between China and the five countries of Central Asia region.
It seems that Xi as the driving force and Xi’an as a connecting hub of the BRI, both have become new center of regional as well as global “center of gravity”. This new center definitely further enhances prospects of regional peace, stability and harmony through greater regional connectivity.
Moreover, Xi and Xi’an stand for greater regional peace, progress, prosperity, positivity and participation which would further foster true spirits of mutual cooperation, coordination and collaboration between both the sides.
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One of the most important features of his speech was to further strengthen the concept of China-Central Asia community with a shared future. The path to the shared future will involve deepening of strategic mutual trust and supporting each other’s sovereignty, independence, national dignity and long-term development.
Thus community with shared future has become a new model of sustainable development and diplomatic ties between China and all the Central Asian countries which would hopefully generate befitting propositions for all, leading toward equitable regionalism, protective and productive alternative route, and last but not least, food and energy security in the days to come.
Furthermore, Xi significantly focused on the operationalization and channelization of BRI along with promotion of the implementation of the GDI, GSI and GCI. He also called for joint and sincere efforts to fully unleash cooperation potential in traditional areas such as trade, industrial capacity, energy and transportation, and to foster new growth drivers in areas such as finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, low carbon, health, and digital innovation.
Xi and the Xi’an summit hold strong philosophical, psychological and political resolve and socio-economic connectivity to deter the looming threats of foreign infiltrations in the domestic affairs, geopolitical complex games, geostrategic manipulations to scheme and stage “color revolutions” which should be dealt with zero-tolerance stance against the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
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Both also stand for strengthening of good governance, multiculturalism, ethnic diversity and interfaith dialogue between China and the five countries of the Central Asia, which would further promote a just political equation and socio-economic harmony between these two sides in the days to come.
Further industrial development and investment would further facilitate the all-around cooperation between the countries. Trade facilitation, upgrading of bilateral investment agreements with Central Asian countries along with overhauling of the cross-border freight volume with Central Asian countries and building of green channel fast clearance of agricultural and sideline products at all border ports between China and Central Asian countries would further enhance socio-economic unity along with harmonized geopolitical strength completely different from the US imperialistic and harmonic model of so-called regional integration.
Hopefully the construction of a cross-Caspian Sea international transport corridor and the construction of transportation hubs of China-Europe freight train services would definitely further promote and upgrade capacity of existing ports between China and Central Asian countries.
Moreover, energy cooperation and green development would further diversify relations between China and Central Asian countries.
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For further strengthening of business and economic cooperation, China will encourage competitive businesses to build overseas warehouses in Central Asian countries which will further accelerate the bilateral and trilateral business cooperation.
The author is Executive Director of the Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) based in Pakistan.