Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen friendship with Central Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on young people from Central Asian countries studying in China to be devoted to promoting friendship between China and Central Asia and make greater contributions to strengthening relations between China and their home countries, as reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

In a reply letter to Central Asian students at China Petroleum University in Beijing, which was released on Monday, Xi said China and Central Asian countries have a deep friendship and common future.

Xi said that since 2013, when he took the initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt, relations between China and Central Asia have steadily improved, accelerating cooperation in all areas that benefit the peoples of both sides. 

The friendship between China and Central Asian countries should be continued by ambitious and promising young people from generation to generation, he said, adding that students are not only witnesses and beneficiaries of China-Central Asia ties, but also contribute to strengthening these relations.

Xi said he hoped the students would  be committed to China-Central Asian friendship, carry the "spirit of the Silk Road" and speak well about the history of  China and Central Asian countries.

He encouraged students to act as "ambassadors  of friendship" and "bridges  of cooperation" and make their contribution to building a closer Sino-Central Asian community with a shared future.

The students recently wrote a letter to Xi and showed their determination to study hard and strengthen cooperation to contribute to building a Sino-Central Asian community with a common future. 

The upcoming China-Central Asia summit, chaired by President Xi Jinping, will be held in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on May 18 and 19.

Officials and analysts say the event will further enhance ties between China and the five Central Asian countries, take economic and trade cooperation to a higher level and bring more tangible benefits to the people.

The summit will be attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz  President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Photo: flickr.com