Chinese FM says Xi's Central Asia tour strengthened bilateral relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that President Xi Jinping's trip recently concluded tour of four Central Asian countries and his participation at the 13th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has strengthened the bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Xi visited Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan during which the Chinese president also attended the SCO summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.

Wang said that Central Asia has become a strategic partner of China in economic, trade and energy cooperation as countries in the region not only face the opportunity to achieve common development by taking advantage of their economic complementarities, but also face the common threat of external intervention and the three evil forces.

During the visits, in which Xi had candid talks with his counterparts of the Central Asian countries on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern, Wang said that these helped build personal ties and mutual trust between the leaders.

The president also stressed that China will never interfere in the internal affairs of Central Asian countries and never seek dominance nor build sphere of influence in the region.

Wang said a total of 38 agreements were reached between the governments and companies, covering a wide range of areas and involving a large sum of investment.