The second China-Central Asia Summit was held at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan on June 17th. We should be guided by the "China-Central Asia Spirit", adopt a more enterprising attitude and more practical measures to enhance cooperation, promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and forge ahead towards the goal of a community with a shared future. At a time when the century-old changes are accelerating and international and regional situations are intertwined, it is timely for China and Central Asian countries to join hands to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. This move points out the direction and provides fundamental guidance for promoting common modernization, setting a model of regional cooperation, and building a new type of international relations.
Working together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future conforms to the trend of The Times
The world should not be divided but united. Human beings cannot return to the law of the jungle; instead, they should build a community with a shared future for mankind. Working together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future is the "China-Central Asia solution" to confront global challenges.
In today's world, challenges and opportunities coexist. On the one hand, the century-old transformation is accelerating, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. This poses severe challenges to Central Asia and the entire world, with instability and uncertainty becoming the norm. Regional hot issues keep emerging one after another. Unilateralism and protectionism are rampant. Some countries are "holding high" the big stick of sanctions and tariffs, wantonly trampling on the interests of other countries. There is a lack of trust and governance. Globally, the peace deficit has been deepening continuously, the development deficit has been expanding continuously, the security deficit has become increasingly prominent, and the governance deficit has become more severe. On the other hand, in the face of global and regional challenges, the tasks of promoting development and prosperity as well as maintaining peace and security have become increasingly arduous. More and more countries, including China and the five Central Asian countries, are increasingly aware of the importance and urgency of jointly addressing challenges and getting through difficult times together.
Interdependence among countries is the general trend of history. Living under the same blue sky, whether close neighbors or distant acquaintances, whether large or small countries, whether developed or developing countries, all countries are increasingly forming a community of shared interests, a community of shared responsibility and a community with a shared future, featuring intertwined interests and shared security. Under the background of the information age, China's exchanges and connections with Central Asian countries have become more frequent, closer, deeper and broader. During the friendly exchanges over the past 30-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and the Central Asian countries have adhered to mutual respect, good-neighborliness, solidarity and mutual benefit. Political mutual trust and all-round cooperation have reached an unprecedented high level, setting a model for a new type of international relations.
The systemic driving forces formed by the political and economic changes in the world and regions have prompted the Central Asian countries to establish dialogue platforms and cooperate with major actors to address challenges in a "collective capacity". Facing the impact of internal and external changes, political stability, economic recovery and social security have become the common demands of Central Asian countries. The geopolitical unrest triggered by the Ukraine crisis has driven Central Asia towards developing into a global "hub". To achieve this role and functional transformation, the Central Asian countries have accelerated the process of regional integration. In July 2022, at the Fourth Central Asian Heads of State Consultative Conference held in Kyrgyzstan, the "Agreement on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperative Development in Central Asia in the 21st Century" was signed, marking a new stage in the integration of Central Asia.
The profound historical roots and extensive practical demands have laid a solid foundation for China-Central Asia cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative has closely united China with the Central Asian countries. The form, structure and dynamic mechanism of integration in Central Asia are also undergoing positive changes. In building a community with a shared future for mankind, China and Central Asian countries have always been at the forefront of the international community. The Joint Statement of the leaders of China and the Five Central Asian Countries on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations pointed out: "The six countries are determined to continue to work together to build a strategic partnership that is rich in content, fruitful in results and long-lasting in friendship on the basis of taking into account each other's interests, and to create a China-Central Asia community with a shared future." This solemn commitment fully demonstrates the determination of the six countries to firmly promote the sustained and stable development of bilateral relations. It will inject more positive energy into regional peace and development and bring more benefits to the people of both sides. The pattern of cooperation where you are in me and I am in you, interdependent and mutually beneficial and win-win, enables China and Central Asian countries to benefit together and share development. Chinese-style modernization requires a stable, peaceful and thriving Central Asia. As a systematic integrator of regional industrial and supply chains, China can also promote the reconstruction of industrial systems in Central Asian countries. The all-round cooperation between China and Central Asian countries will drive the prosperity and stability of the entire region.
Promoting common modernization is a shared vision for jointly building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future
China, along with the five Central Asian countries, are all developing countries and have always been companions on the road to modernization. At present, China is comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Central Asian countries are also adhering to the development path suitable for their national conditions and making every effort to achieve development transformation and national rejuvenation.
Continuously strengthened political mutual trust is the political foundation for promoting common modernization. Over the past 30-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Central Asian countries have respected each other and treated each other as equals. They have supported each other and communicated actively on issues concerning each other's major core interests. The most significant achievement of this summit is that the heads of state of the six countries jointly signed the "Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation", legally establishing the principle of friendship for generations to come. This is a new milestone in the history of relations among the six countries, benefiting the present and future generations. The signing of the treaty indicates that political mutual trust between China and Central Asian countries has reached a new height, strategic cooperation has taken new steps, and people-to-people connectivity has achieved a new leap. It will lay a solid foundation for the long-term and stable development of relations between China and Central Asian countries. China and the five Central Asian countries have achieved "three full coverages" of comprehensive strategic partnership, partnership for jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, and bilateral and regional community with a shared future, demonstrating the high level of mutual trust between the two sides.
Continuously deepening practical cooperation is the economic foundation for promoting common modernization. China's cooperation with the five Central Asian countries in traditional fields such as investment and trade, infrastructure, energy and minerals has been continuously enhanced, and cooperation in emerging industries such as green development, artificial intelligence and cross-border e-commerce has been successively expanded. In 2024, the trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries reached 94.8 billion US dollars, setting a new historical record. Since the first China-Central Asia Summit, the China-Kyrgyztou-Uzbekistan Railway project has been officially launched, the planning of the third China-Kazakhstan railway has been steadily advancing, the restoration of the second phase of the China-Tajikistan Highway has been progressing smoothly, and energy cooperation between China and Turkey has been steadily carried out... At this summit, the heads of state of the six countries jointly witnessed the signing of the High-Quality Belt and Road Initiative Action Plan. This is the first time that China has signed a comprehensive cooperation document on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative with all the countries in a single region around it. Central Asia, as a demonstration zone for high-quality Belt and Road Initiative, is more substantial and has stronger momentum. China and Central Asian countries have also signed cooperation documents in areas such as facilitating personnel exchanges, green minerals, unimpeded trade, connectivity, industry, and customs, and established the China-Central Asia Trade Unimpeded Cooperation Platform. All parties will focus on six priority directions: unimpeded trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization, and personnel exchanges, to promote more visible achievements and facilitate their respective development and revitalization.
Increasingly strengthened security cooperation is a stable foundation for promoting common modernization. China and Central Asian countries jointly implement the Global Security Initiative and continuously strengthen cooperation in the field of security. In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have jointly combated the "three evil forces" and transnational organized crime, jointly responded to security threats, helped Afghanistan achieve peace, stability and reconstruction and development at an early stage, and created a peaceful, tranquil and mutually supportive regional security pattern. Multi-field cooperation and multiple measures in parallel have effectively maintained regional security and stability.
Continuously expanding cultural and people-to-people cooperation is the public opinion foundation for promoting common modernization. The friendship between countries lies in the closeness of their people. During this summit, China signed multiple sister city agreements with the five Central Asian countries, and the number of sister cities exceeded 100 pairs. China is willing to open more cultural centers, branch campuses of universities and Lu Ban workshops in Central Asia, add Central Asian language majors in Chinese universities, continue to implement the "China-Central Asia Technical and Skills Enhancement Program" well, and cultivate more high-quality talents for Central Asian countries. China and Central Asian countries have taken sister-city exchanges as a bridge and cultural exchanges as a handle to jointly build a "heart-to-heart connection" pattern that extends from the central to the local level, from the official to the people, and from neighboring regions to broader areas.
Join hands to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future and set an example for building a new type of international relations
Working together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future has set a new pattern for international exchanges and a model for building a new type of international relations. The China-Central Asia Community with a shared future is based on establishing a partnership pattern featuring equality, mutual consultation and understanding. Over the past 30-plus years, through joint efforts, China and the five Central Asian countries have achieved full coverage of comprehensive strategic partnerships. In the diplomatic layout between China and Central Asian countries, each holds an important position.
It has set a model of mutual respect in the new type of international relations. For more than 30 years since its independence, the Central Asian countries have been committed to consolidating political independence, opposing external interference, adhering to a development path suitable for their national conditions, and seeking diplomatic diversity, balance, independence and autonomy. China firmly supports the Central Asian countries in independently choosing their development paths and in safeguarding their national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Central Asian countries reaffirm their commitment to the One-China principle, recognizing that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
It has set a model of good-neighborliness and friendship in the new type of international relations. The Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries pointed out: "China has a vast territory and long borders. Neighboring countries are an important foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key point for safeguarding national security, the top priority in planning the overall diplomatic situation, and a crucial factor in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind." Central Asia is one of China's important neighboring regions. It is the first place to advocate high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road Initiative" and an active participant in promoting the Initiative. More than 30 years of exchanges have shown that good-neighborliness and friendship are the cornerstone for promoting high-quality common development between China and Central Asian countries. China will take building a peaceful, secure, prosperous, beautiful and friendly homeland as its common vision, follow the principles of good-neighborliness, stability, prosperity, amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and share a common future, take the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness as its basic guideline, and take high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative as its main platform. Backed by the Asian security model featuring shared security, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation, we will join hands with Central Asian countries to create a bright future together.
It has set a model of fairness and justice in the new type of international relations. Justice is one of humanity's eternal pursuits for a better world. The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. At a time when turmoil is intertwined, unilateralism prevails and global and regional issues occur frequently, China, together with the Central Asian countries, jointly upholds the correct view of World War II history, opposes hegemonism, actively maintains and practices true multilateralism, safeguards the post-war international order and defends international fairness and justice. Working together to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future is in line with the interests and development demands of China and Central Asian countries. The key to China's close cooperation with Central Asian countries and the smooth development of the China-Central Asia mechanism lies in the "China-Central Asia Spirit" of "mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual assistance, and promoting common modernization through high-quality development". The successful holding of this summit marks a new milestone in China-Central Asia cooperation and is bound to promote a historic leap in relations between China and Central Asian countries. China and Central Asian countries will also, under the guidance of the "China-Central Asia Spirit", join hands to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, jointly paint a beautiful picture of the next "golden 30 years" of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
(The articles in this section were organized by the Global Times and edited by the Theory Department of People's Daily.
People's Daily (June 30, 2025, Page 09)
- Excerpted from People's Daily Online
