On May 18-19, 2023, the first Central Asia-China Summit was held in the city of Xian, Shaanxi Province of China. During the Summit, a number of agreements on cooperation between the states of Central Asia and China were reached.
I. Main agreements and cooperation initiatives
1. Creation of a mechanism for meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia and China.
2. Creation of mechanisms for meetings at the ministerial level in key and priority areas of cooperation.
3. Consideration of the possibility of establishing the Secretariat “Central Asia – China”.
4. Promoting the integration of the “One Belt and One Road” Joint Construction Initiative with the initiatives and national development strategies of the Central Asian states.
5. Unleashing the potential of the mechanism “Dialogue and cooperation in the field of electronic commerce” [e-commerce].
6. Promoting mutual trade, promoting the diversification of trade structure, and continuously facilitation of trade procedures.
7. Development of a joint Strategy for the New Economic Dialogue “Central Asia – China”.
8. Increasing the interconnectedness of digital and green infrastructure.
9. Consideration of the possibility of creating a Data Bank of priority green investment projects.
10. Promoting the implementation of the Qingdao Initiative on Industrial and Investment Cooperation “Central Asia – China”.
11. Continued work on updating agreements on cooperation in the field of investments between the states of Central Asia and China.
12. Gradual and consistent increase in the number of civil passenger and cargo flights.
13. Consideration of the possibility of issuing a card for business trips “Central Asia – China” [business travel card].
14.Modernization of the infrastructure of checkpoints.
15. Distribution of the practice of “express corridor” for customs clearance of agricultural and food products at all border crossings.
16. Increasing the interconnectedness of “single windows” in international trade, promoting interaction to simplify customs clearance.
17. Development of the transport corridor “Central Asia – China”.
18. Development of multimodal transit and transport transportation along the trans-Caspian routes using the seaports of Aktau, Kuryk and Turkmenbashi, as well as the transit and transport capabilities of the city of Termez.
19. Activation of transportation by container trains China-Central Asia.
20. Development of transport infrastructure, including the construction of new and modernization of existing railways and roads from China to Central Asia.
21. Completion of the feasibility study of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and promotion of the early start of its construction.
22. Ensuring the smooth functioning of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway.
23. Implementation of the regular operation of the highway “China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan” and the highway “Western China-Western Europe”.
24. Consideration of optimal opportunities for the transit of products from the countries of Central Asia to the markets of the countries of Southeast Asia and other Asian countries and vice versa.
25. Expansion of the range of imports of agricultural products from Central Asian countries to the Chinese market.
26. Development of cooperation in the field of “smart” agriculture and exchange of experience in the implementation of water-saving, green and other highly efficient technologies and best practices.
27. Exchange of technologies and specialists in arid, and saline soil reclamation, water-saving irrigation, pest control, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.
28. Exchange of experience in the field of modernization of the agricultural sector and the establishment of production chains between urban and rural areas in order to implement measures to reduce poverty.
29. Activation of cooperation in the field of poverty reduction through the introduction of effective social support programs for the population, the exchange of specialists and modern methodologies.
30. Creation of partnerships “Central Asia – China” on energy development.
31. Ensuring the stable operation of the energy corridor for the supply of natural gas “Turkmenistan – China”.
32. Development of cooperation in the development of renewable energy sources.
33. Development of cooperation between the regions of the states of Central Asia and China, the establishment of sister cities and partnerships between provinces and regions.
34. Conducting joint archaeological expeditions, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, museum exchanges, search and return of missing and stolen cultural property.
35. Invitation by the Chinese side of the states of Central Asia to the implementation of the project “Cultural Silk Road”.
36. Consideration of the possibility of developing a joint tourist route “Central Asia – China”.
37. Promotion of the construction of centers of traditional Chinese medicine, including in the field of cultivation and processing of medicinal plants to form the “Silk Road of Health”.
38. Support for the initiative to create a special multilateral body under the auspices of the UN – the International Agency for Biological Safety.
39. Launch of the Year of Culture and Art of the Peoples of the Countries of Central Asia and China and the Youth Festival of Arts “Central Asia – China”.
40. Conducting academic and student exchanges, youth festivals, forums and sports competitions.
41. Establishment of mutual cultural centers by interested parties.
42. Allocation of quotas for government scholarships to the states of Central Asia, training of specialized specialists in Central Asia in China.
43. Development of vocational education within the framework of the Lu Ban Workshops.
44. Expand cooperation in high-tech areas such as artificial intelligence, smart city, big data and cloud computing.
45. Development and practical application of “green” solutions in mitigating the negative effects of climate change.
46. Carrying out activities on green and low-carbon development “Central Asia – China” in order to deepen cooperation in the field of green development and combat climate change.
47. Strengthening the interaction of the relevant departments for emergency situations, deepening cooperation in the field of disaster prevention, mitigation and elimination of their consequences, industrial safety, search and rescue operations, as well as the exchange of seismic safety technologies.
48. Implementation of regional programs and projects in the field of “green” technologies.
49. Consideration of the possibility of developing a Joint Anti-Drug Action Plan with the participation of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
50. Organization of the mutual display of television films and television programs.
51. Development of cooperation through the media “Central Asia – China”.
52. Active interaction within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative.
53. Implementation of the Roadmap for the development of regional cooperation for 2022-2025 on the results of the online summit of the heads of state “Central Asia – China”.
54. Holding the second Summit “Central Asia – China” in 2025 in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
II. Mechanisms and platforms for multilateral cooperation initiated by the Chinese side
1. The mechanism of the meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China”
2. Mechanism of the meeting of ministers of economy and trade “Central Asia – China”
3. The mechanism of meetings at the level of ministers in charge of industrial and investment cooperation “Central Asia – China”
4. Mechanism of meetings of ministers of agriculture “Central Asia – China”
5. Mechanism for cooperation in emergency situations “Central Asia – China”
6. Mechanism of meetings of ministers of transport “Central Asia – China”
7. Mechanism of the meeting of ministers of education “Central Asia – China”
8. The mechanism of energy cooperation “Central Asia – China”
9. Mechanism of meetings of heads of customs services “Central Asia – China”
10. Dialogue of political parties “Central Asia – China”
11. Network of cooperation of national administrative academies “Central Asia – China”
12. Business Council “Central Asia – China”
13. Cooperation Forum “Central Asia – China”
14. Regional Cooperation Forum “Central Asia – China”
15. Forum of industrial and investment cooperation “Central Asia – China”
16. Forum of think tanks “Central Asia – China”
17. Dialogue mechanism on cooperation in the field of electronic commerce “Central Asia – China”
18. Health Industry Alliance “Central Asia – China”
19. Forum of news agencies “Central Asia – China”
III. Multilateral documents of the Summit
1. Xi’an Declaration of the Summit “Central Asia – China”
2. Memorandum of Understanding on industrial and investment cooperation “Central Asia – China”
3. Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening trade and economic cooperation in the “Central Asia – China” format
4. Memorandum of Understanding between the states of Central Asia and China on cooperation in the field of digital trade
5. Memorandum of Understanding to promote the development of cooperation in the field of infrastructure and engineering construction in the “Central Asia – China” format
6. Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a mechanism for the meeting of ministers of agriculture “Central Asia – China”
7. Regulations on the work of the mechanism of the meeting of the heads of customs services in the format “Central Asia – China”
8. Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation in the field of import and export of animal and plant quarantine between the competent authorities in the format “Central Asia – China”
9. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the establishment of the Business Council “Central Asia – China” ///nCa, May 20, 2023