On Friday, China’s President Xi Jinping outlined an ambitious plan to assist Central Asia development, from developing infrastructure networks to promoting trade without “external interference.”

At the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China, Xi said China is ready to coordinate development strategies with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to modernize all six countries.
“The world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious, and well-connected,” Xi remarked.

Xi advised the six countries to fight “external interference” in regional countries’ internal affairs and “colour revolutions” and to zero-tolerate terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

“China is ready to help Central Asian countries improve their law enforcement, security, and defense capability construction,” Xi stated.
Chinese state media has portrayed the two-day summit in Xian, the historic Silk Road city, as a success of China’s regional diplomacy. The leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan pledged support for Beijing and promised deeper cooperation.

At the weekend Group of Seven summits in Hiroshima, Beijing’s “negative” image will contrast with Central Asian solidarity.

China’s neighbors’ high-profile trust will fight U.S. charges of coercive diplomacy. As Moscow focuses on the Ukraine crisis, Xi’s assembly of five heads of state on Chinese soil without Putin appears to draw Central Asia closer to China.
Xi said China and Central Asian nations should deepen strategic mutual trust and always provide “clear and strong support” on core interests like sovereignty, independence, national dignity, and long-term development, without mentioning war-torn Ukraine, a former Soviet state like the Central Asian nations.

Xi said China would strengthen bilateral investment agreements with Central Asian countries and increase cross-border freight volume.

He said that Beijing would urge Chinese-funded Central Asian enterprises to create more local jobs, develop foreign warehouses, and introduce a special train service to promote cultural tourism.

Last year, China and Central Asia traded a record $70 billion, with Kazakhstan leading with $31 billion, as China seeks food and energy security through stronger commercial ties.

Xi advised accelerating Line D of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline.

He also urged China and Central Asia to promote oil and gas trade, energy cooperation throughout industrial chains, new energy, and peaceful nuclear energy use.

Xi said China supports the establishment of a cross-Caspian Sea international transport corridor and will improve China-Europe freight train service transportation hubs.