Diplomatic conference between China and five Central Asian countries
China-Central Asia Summit (Chinese: 中国—中亚峰会) is a diplomatic summit held by the leaders of the People's Republic of China and the five Central Asian countries. The first China-Central Asia Summit was held at the Xi'an International Conference Center in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province from May 18 to 19, 2023.[1][2][3][4]Xi Jinping, the paramount leader of China, presided over the summit, and the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries attended the summit.[5]
On the evening of May 18, President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for Central Asian Heads of State and their couples attending the China-Central Asia Summit at the Tang Paradise in Xi'an, Shaanxi.[8]
On the morning of May 19, 2023, the six parties held talks in which China announced that it would provide Central Asian countries with a total of 26 billion Yuan in financing support and non-reimbursable assistance, introduce more trade facilitation initiatives and upgrade bilateral investment agreements, and accelerate the construction of the D-line of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline.[9][10][11]
After the meeting, the six leaders attended the signing ceremony of the China-Central Asia Summit and met with journalists. In the afternoon, the six heads of state jointly planted six pomegranate trees.[12][13]
The summit reached 54 points of major cooperation consensus and initiatives, including the establishment of 19 multilateral cooperation platforms and the conclusion of nine multilateral cooperation documents within the framework of the summit.[14]
The heads agreed to use the organization of the summit as an opportunity to formally establish a mechanism for China-Central Asia Heads of State meetings, which will be held every two years, alternating between China and Central Asian countries. The next summit will be held in Kazakhstan in 2025.[15] The heads of State agreed to establish a permanent secretariat of the China-Central Asia mechanism in China.[16][17]