Foreign ministers of China, Central Asian nations to maintain 'close communication'

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The foreign ministers of China and Central Asian countries have agreed to maintain "close communication and coordination" following the fourth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held in the Chinese city of Xi'an.

"They (foreign ministers) believe that the China-Central Asia mechanism plays an important role in consolidating political mutual trust, deepening exchanges and cooperation, and promoting people-to-people bonds, and has made positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the region," said a joint communique published Thursday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The statement said the foreign ministers coordinated preparations for the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit, while Central Asian nations spoke "highly" of China's work in organizing the event and agreed to maintain "close communication and coordination to ensure the success of the summit and achieve fruitful results."

It noted that all parties supported further improving the "China-Central Asia" mechanism and adoption of "effective measures" to boost cooperation in different fields including trade, investment, and financing.

"All parties pointed out that connectivity is the priority direction of cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, and will fully implement the 'Initiative on Deepening China-Central Asia Connectivity Cooperation' to create a three-dimensional integration of roads, railways, aviation, ports, etc."

The statement added that all six countries agreed to expand cooperation in fields including agriculture, energy, e-commerce, green and digital economy, and advanced technology, while also cooperating further in "combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, illegal drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and cybercrime, and jointly maintain security and stability in the region."

The meeting was attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his counterparts Bakhtiyor Saidov of Uzbekistan, Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev of Kyrgyzstan, and Sirodjiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan, as well as Turkmenistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev.

Qin said in a later briefing that the heads of state of these nations would meet in a summit next month in Xi'an.