On Thursday, Central Asian leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Xian to promise “enduring” friendship and prepare for a meeting expected to result in a regional treaty.
China’s foreign ministry said the bilateral meetings would set the setting for Friday’s first in-person meeting of the six leaders. Xi will give an “important” speech and sign an “important” political declaration.
Banners, billboards, and taxi signs in Xian promoted the conference in Chinese and Russian.
Foreign journalists, particularly African correspondents, covered the event.
Turkmenistan’s president, the farthest from China, arrived in Xian early Thursday morning.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, China’s largest commercial partner in Central Asia, met with Xi on Wednesday and agreed to “enduring friendship” and “weal and woe.”
“We have a common goal – to intensify bilateral relations,” Tokayev told Xi.
“We are also united by the desire to strengthen regional and international security and cooperation.”
The parties agreed to safeguard the Kazakh segment of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline. In addition, oil and uranium cooperation was also expanded.
Tokayev’s deal with Xi will set the tone for upcoming bilateral meetings when China will seek closer cooperation with other Central Asia states to improve food, energy, and national security.
Kazakhstan led China-Central Asia trade last year with $31 billion. Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan followed.
Xi’s summit with Central Asian leaders will coincide with a Group of Seven gathering in Japan starting Friday, where Beijing’s “economic coercion” will likely be discussed.
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