Beijing: July 12, 2021 –(TDI): The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on an official 5-day visit to Central Asia. The visit starts today and will last for 5 days ending on 16th July.
Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are China’s friendly, close neighbors and strategic partners. In May, the second China+Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers’ meeting was successfully held in Xi’an, bringing China’s relationship with Central Asian countries to a new level. As the SCO celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it is now facing new opportunities for development. The development of the situation in Afghanistan is at a critical juncture. As close neighbors of Afghanistan, the SCO member states can play a positive role in promoting the peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction process in Afghanistan. Better connectivity is the common aspiration of countries in Central and South Asia and is also an important part of the BRI cooperation.
Against this background, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit is an important diplomatic mission aimed at consolidating traditional friendship and cooperation with Central Asian countries, advancing the development of the SCO, promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan, and strengthening joint efforts to build the BRI and enhance connectivity.
During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with leaders of the three Central Asian countries, hold talks with their foreign ministers, attend multilateral events including the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting and have friendly exchanges with foreign ministers of other participating countries. We believe that this visit will be a robust move to implement the important common understanding reached between President Xi Jinping and leaders of other countries, deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, promote high-quality BRI cooperation, and make new contributions to regional peace and stability.
