Yinchuan (TDI): China and Central Asian countries signed 35 agreements pertaining to trade, agriculture and sister cities worth 11.2 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) at the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, which has concluded in Yinchuan in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region.
The forum also announced the Yinchuan Initiative, stressing for more exchanges and cooperation in green development, smart agriculture, e-commerce and people-to-people exchanges.
The four-day forum (October 25 to 28) was themed around “Promoting Green Development and Building a Common Home”.
Earlier, in a key note address to the opening ceremony of the forum, Shen Yueyue, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said that the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries jointly mapped out a new plan for China-Central Asia collaboration during the China-Central Asia Summit.
Shen, also chairperson of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said that China is ready to continue cooperation with all Central Asian countries to advance mutually beneficial collaboration in an all-round way and bring more benefits to the people of the countries
Four parallel sub-forums on industrial green development, modern agriculture and technological innovation, sister city cooperation and cultural exchanges, and regional cooperation were highlighted during the last three days in the event.
A photo exhibition of achievements in China-Central Asia cooperation, a tree planting activity, a youth camp activity, an unveiling ceremony for a Central Asian specialty products exhibition and sales center were featured in the event .
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The forum also featured the inauguration of the China (Ningxia) – Central Asia Youth Friendship Camp and the unveiling ceremony of the Central Asia Specialty Goods Exhibition and Sales Center.
All the sessions were designed to expand practical cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries in trade and investment, culture, science and technology, digital economy, and modern agriculture.
Additionally, an initiative of the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum was also released during the forum.
The China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum is a national-level cooperation platform for institutionalized exchanges between China and Central Asian countries.
Quoting an official, Chinese media reported that hosting the forum in Ningxia, a key node in the Belt and Road Initiative, is a strategic move to implement the outcomes of the first China-Central Asia Summit and the Astana Summit, noted a local official.
Over 300 Chinese and international guests, including leaders from China and Central Asian countries, provincial and ministerial officials, diplomats stationed in China, experts and scholars, representatives from relevant international organizations, and delegates from business associations, universities, and enterprises participated in the forum.
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In the past 10 years, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have played an active role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, turning Central Asia into a demonstration zone for Belt and Road cooperation, an official statement said.
The forum was co-hosted by the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.