Camel Bell Ancient Road Silk Road, Hu Ma still hears the Han Tang style. The history of exchanges between China and Central Asian countries can be traced back to the Han and Tang dynasties. A thousand years ago, the golden peach of Samarkand crossed the yellow sand and walked through the winding and continuous road of the Western Regions in the sound of camel bells, gathering with the clothes and crowns of various countries in Chang’an. In May 2023, the heads of state of China and Central Asian countries gathered in Xi’an to participate in the grand event and successfully held the first China Central Asia Summit. In June this year, the second China Central Asia Summit will arrive as scheduled, and the leaders of the six countries will gather in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to discuss the development plan of China Central Asia.
Establish a pilot demonstration zone for building a comprehensive strategic partner cluster. China and Central Asian countries adhere to the principles of equal consultation, mutual understanding and concession, and clarify the demarcation of over 3300 kilometers of borders. From comprehensively and thoroughly resolving the historical border issues, signing the Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, to establishing strategic partnership, comprehensive strategic partnership, and permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, China Kazakhstan relations have continuously achieved leapfrog development, reaching a new level almost every decade. At present, China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with all Central Asian countries and a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership with Kazakhstan.
Establish a pilot demonstration area for the joint construction of the “the Belt and Road”. China and all five Central Asian countries have signed the cooperation document of jointly building the “the Belt and Road”, setting a benchmark in the world. Kazakhstan is the first place to jointly build the “the Belt and Road” initiative and the first station to go west. Cooperation started early, has a solid foundation and has yielded fruitful results. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and Kazakhstan reached a historic high of 43.82 billion US dollars. Over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the trade volume between China and Central Asian countries has increased by more than 100 times. The China Europe (Central Asia) freight train has become a “steel camel caravan” supporting international cooperation. The three parallel lines of the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline have become an important source of onshore natural gas imports for China. Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian country to grant visa free access to China, and the number of personnel exchanges between the two sides has doubled after more than a year of visa free access.
Establish a pilot demonstration zone for building a community with a shared future for mankind. China and Central Asian countries respect each other’s independently chosen development path, firmly support each other in core interests such as national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, resolutely oppose foreign interference, and adhere to a shared destiny. China and Kazakhstan are building a community of shared future characterized by intergenerational friendship, high mutual trust, solidarity, and shared prosperity. China, along with other Central Asian countries, is also constructing a community of shared future with different connotations.
At present, the century long changes are accelerating, and the international and regional situation is intertwined. Guided by the concept of friendly, sincere, beneficial, and inclusive diplomacy, China has achieved fruitful results in the development of its relations with Central Asian countries, working together to create a new “golden thirty years” of bilateral relations and jointly building a China Central Asia community of shared destiny.
Deepen political mutual trust and provide strategic support for each other. Strengthen the exchange of experience in governing the country, respect the development path choices of all countries, adhere to promoting the establishment of a community with a shared future, firmly support each other’s core interests, jointly oppose foreign interference, and ensure political security.
Persist in seeking common development and take the path of coordinated development. Promote the landing of global development initiatives in Central Asia, promote the joint construction of the “the Belt and Road” initiative and the docking of the development strategies of Central Asian countries, use Chinese path to modernization to help the coordinated development of Central Asian countries, and work with Central Asian countries as “fellow travelers on the road to modernization”.
Promote people to people communication and build a solid foundation for public opinion matchmaking. Only through the intersection of hearts can it become long-lasting. China and Central Asian countries are advancing in cultural, tourism, and youth exchanges, with scientific, technological, and educational cooperation flying hand in hand. We are constantly deepening cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and consolidating the public opinion foundation of intergenerational friendship.
(Han Chunlin, written by the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan)