China, Central Asian nations vow to collaborate on core interests

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) — China and five Central Asian nations have agreed to collaborate on issues concerning their core interests.

Following the two-day China-Central Asia summit, the leaders of the six countries agreed to enhance cooperation in different sectors including security and trade.

"The six countries will firmly support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests such as sovereignty, independence, security and territorial integrity, respect the development path chosen based on each other’s national conditions," said the Chinese Foreign Ministry, citing a transcript issued after a joint press meet late on Friday.

The summit was held in China's northwestern Xi'an city.

It was attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdimuhammedov.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the six countries are determined to work together to rise up to challenges and foster a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

The leaders officially inaugurated the China-Central Asia Summit Mechanism with its permanent secretariat in China.

The next summit will be held in Kazakhstan in 2025, it was decided.