Editor's note: In the last almost one decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has
been an integral part of the global economy and has greatly bolstered
developing economies.
It is an initiative for peaceful development and economic cooperation which
covers different regions. Three experts share their views with China
Daily on how the initiative can bring more benefits to the world. China,
Central Asia begin new page By Djoomart Otorbaev From Sept 14 to 16,
President Xi Jinping will attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Heads of
State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand, Uzbekistan,
and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The visits will be the first
by the Chinese leader abroad since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
The beginning of this year has already been marked by important events in
the relations between the countries of Central Asia and China.
The Chinese president and the leaders of all five Central Asian countries
held a virtual summit on Jan 25, 2022, marking the 30th anniversary of
the establishment of their diplomatic relations. At the meeting, the presidents
discussed the results of joint work and outlined the horizons for further cooperation.
It should be noted that next year marks 10 years since the Belt and Road Initiative
was first proposed, when Chinese President Xi Jinping called on countries in Central
Asia to work together to build the Silk Road Economic Belt. During the leaders' virtual
meeting in January, the Chinese president presented five concrete proposals for future
cooperation with Central Asia. The first was related to the deepening of neighbourly
relations based on the principles of friendship, sincerity, mutual benefit and
inclusiveness. President Xi specially mentioned that China opposes interference in the
internal affairs of countries on any pretext. Second, the participants decided to
strengthen their economic relations. The Chinese leader stressed that China is ready
to open its markets for goods and services from Central Asia. By 2030, China plans to
bring the annual volume of mutual trade to $70 billion. In comparison, according to the
Ministry of Commerce of China, the volume of trade between China and the countries of
Central Asia in the first 11 months of 2021 amounted to approximately $45 billion.
To achieve better connectivity new logistics and trade corridors
between the countries will be built.