CGTN: China, Central Asia Seal Landmark Treaty At Astana Summit

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- China Global Television Network (CGTN) has reported that the second China-Central Asia Summit, held recently in Astana, Kazakhstan, marked a significant step in strengthening ties between China and the five Central Asian nations.

According to CGTN in a statement, the event was notable for being the first summit of its kind hosted in a Central Asian country.

A key outcome of the summit was the signing of the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, a landmark agreement aimed at codifying lasting friendship and mutual support among the six participating nations — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his keynote address, described the treaty as both "a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow."

CGTN emphasised the importance of what Xi termed the "China-Central Asia Spirit", which promotes mutual respect, trust, benefit, and assistance in pursuit of shared modernisation goals.

The summit also reaffirmed the biennial format of the China-Central Asia mechanism, first launched at the inaugural summit in Xi'an in 2023. According to a CGTN poll, 90 per cent of respondents believe the mechanism focuses not on competition but on long-term stability, development, and cooperation.

The report also noted that China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships and signed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation documents with all five Central Asian nations.

The summit reinforced the role of the BRI in driving economic collaboration. Xi called for enhanced practical cooperation in areas such as trade, connectivity, agriculture, and green mining. China also pledged to establish three new cooperation centres for poverty reduction, education exchange, and desertification prevention, as well as a trade facilitation platform.

The summit, CGTN concluded, reflects the deepening of high-level strategic trust and shared commitment to building a community with a shared future, underpinned by the high-quality development of the BRI.

-- BERNAMA