Be good neighbors, good friends, good partners, and good brothers
2024-07-09
The land of Central Asia, the center of the Eurasian continent, is connected to China by mountains and rivers, and is closely intertwined with its surroundings.
More than 2000 years ago, the Han Dynasty envoy "hollowed out" the journey of the Western Regions and carved out a vast river of friendly exchanges between China and Central Asia. Since 2013, China and Central Asian countries have joined hands to promote the comprehensive rejuvenation of the Silk Road, making every effort to build deep cooperation for the future, bringing bilateral relations into a new era, and making the story between China and Central Asia more rich and exciting.
In the midsummer of 2024, this place witnessed a historic moment of close interaction between China and its neighboring countries in Central Asia, working together to build a community with a shared future, and continuing to write a new chapter on the Silk Road in the new era——
From the "land of grasslands" to the "country of mountains", from the lush banks of the Isim River to the scorching Jisar Valley, there is a surge of friendship and cooperation everywhere, and the hope of China and Central Asia working together to adapt to the situation and create a better tomorrow is surging.
(1)
In May 2023, the first major home diplomacy since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was the China Central Asia Summit. This trip to Central Asia is China's third major diplomatic action aimed at the Central Asian region within two years.
China and Central Asia are traveling in both directions, because of the proximity of geographical ties, the benefits of mutual assistance, the cultural ties of mutual understanding and affinity, and because both sides have set a model for the relationship between neighboring countries, they are at the forefront of the practice of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind. The relationship between China Kazakhstan and China Tajikistan is precisely a microcosm of China's relationship with Central Asian countries.
Just like walking with relatives, getting closer and closer, getting closer and closer.
Good neighbors, good friends, good partners, good brothers, the thousand year old friendship blooms into a new era of brilliance.
One by one, the highest courtesies and special arrangements reflect deep affection and also express trust.
The blue welcome blanket runs straight from the gangway to the VIP building. In the hearts of Kazakhstani people, blue symbolizes eternity and harmony, and also conveys the beautiful desire to deepen friendship and partnership.
Despite the busy schedule of preparing for the SCO summit, we still need to personally go to the airport to welcome it. The posture of the ceremonial soldiers was high, and the horns became louder and louder. The two heads of state walked side by side along the long carpet. The fluttering national flag and the greetings of "hello" carry the warmth and convey the warmth.
China is not only a place where dreams take root, but also a place where dreams come true.
State visits have been intensively carried out. Six fighter jets took off and pulled out red and yellow ribbons symbolizing the Chinese national flag over the Presidential Palace. This is the first time Kazakhstan has paid tribute to foreign leaders with this high standard of hospitality.
From Astana to Dushanbe, we met again after a few hours. The two old friends smiled heartily, embraced warmly, and shook hands tightly.
Dear Mr. Chairman, the warm and hospitable Tajikistan warmly welcomes your visit. The innocent Tajik children offer red roses and bilingual greetings in both Chinese and Tajik to the Chinese distinguished guests.
The antique review pavilion and grand welcoming ceremony. Colorful flower ribbons are set on both sides of the red carpet, with over 1500 Tajik youths dancing gracefully or waving the national flag. A passionate smile, unrestrained dance moves, and a strong affection for the central tower rushed towards us.
The next day's welcome ceremony, at the square in front of the Presidential Palace, 21 salute guns rang out in the sky.
President Rahmon attaches great importance to this evaluation, and Tajikistan TV will repeatedly broadcast this video.
This thick friendship is constantly sublimating.
The mirror hall of the Presidential Palace is brightly lit, and on a red background board, the ceremony for awarding the "Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China" is written in Chinese Tathagata.
President Rahmon couldn't conceal his excitement: "This honor is recognition and affirmation of the firm development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Tajikistan and China among all the people of Tajikistan."
The on-site guests stood up time and time again, applauding for a long time.
Mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual understanding, and mutual support, China Kazakhstan and China Tajikistan interpret the true essence of a community with a shared future for mankind through practical actions.
Tokayev said from a historical perspective, "In the long history of coexistence between our two countries, China has never harmed the interests of Kazakhstan. On the contrary, China has extended a helping hand to us more than once." "Deepening friendly strategic cooperation with China is a steadfast priority of Kazakhstan's foreign policy."
Step by step, step by step, under the strong leadership of the head of state's diplomacy, China Kazakhstan and China Tajikistan relations have reached a new starting point.
Two joint statements have made new plans and deployments for the development of China Kazakhstan and China Tajikistan relations under the new situation.
The joint statement between China and Kazakhstan states: "Both sides emphasize the further development of comprehensive and efficient cooperation between the two countries, and the creation of a new 'golden thirty years' of China Kazakhstan relations." Together, we will build a more meaningful and dynamic China Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and the two countries will work together with one heart.
The China Tajikistan Joint Declaration officially announced the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership for cooperation in the new era. With a new positioning, both sides have decided to build a community with a shared future between China and Tajikistan from a higher starting point.
(II)
Among the rich and intensive schedule of state visits, there are two activities focused on practical cooperation, which are particularly noteworthy.
One is the opening ceremony of the China Europe Caspian Sea direct express.
One end is the site of the Caspian Sea port, and the other end is the marble hall of the Presidential Palace of Kazakhstan. On the afternoon of the 3rd, the two heads of state jointly witnessed this important moment of China Kazakhstan cooperation through video conferencing.
"Departure!" Under the command of the two heads of state, the Kurek and Aktau ports located on the far shore of the Caspian Sea immediately began operations. Vehicle boarding, container loading, land water linkage, magnificent scene. The big screen displays real-time footage, with smiles on the faces of the two heads of state, applauding and congratulating.
Known as "Made in China" overseas, it has parallel roads and railways, or starts from Xinjiang or Chongqing via Xinjiang, crosses Kazakhstan to the east coast of the Caspian Sea, and then takes a cargo ship to drive across the world's largest lake to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe. Significantly, this is the first time that Chinese vehicles have arrived at the Caspian Sea port through direct road transportation. This means that a multi-dimensional and interconnected pattern integrating road, railway, aviation, and pipeline transportation has been officially established.
This scene reminds people of the video connection ceremony for cross-border transportation between China, Kazakhstan, Asia and Europe attended by the two heads of state in June 2017. By relying on the new Eurasian land sea intermodal transport channel from Lianyungang to Kazakhstan via Khorgos, Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, has obtained a direct access to the Pacific Ocean.
In just 7 years, from cross-border transportation between China, Kazakhstan, Asia and Europe to direct express transportation between China and Europe across the Caspian Sea, the map of China Kazakhstan connectivity continues to expand. The hinterland of Asia and Europe, which suffered from the "sea and land changes" in international trade when the West opened the era of great navigation centuries ago, is taking advantage of the east wind of jointly building the "the Belt and Road" to re emerge as a transportation hub with global significance, drawing endless development dividends and cooperation opportunities from the endless flow of goods and capital.
Another event was the completion ceremony of the aid tower's parliament building and government building.
A photo is displayed on the exhibition board of the Chinese aid tower parliament building and government building project.
In August 2020, the project officially started construction. The towering scaffolding, roaring excavators... the builders of the central tower worked together to overcome difficulties. In less than 4 years, two magnificent high-rise buildings rose from the ground in the center of Dushanbe, creating a new legend of the Silk Road in the architectural world.
He also mentioned that the two buildings perfectly blend Tajikistan's architectural style with Chinese architectural technology. This is the first foreign aid project implemented by China in the joint design mode, which vividly practices the principle of jointly building the "the Belt and Road", jointly discussing, jointly building and sharing.
Time is the best ruler, measuring the sincerity and quality of cooperation.
Five years, seven years, and a longer timeline can more clearly feel the continuous cooperation between China and Kazakhstan, China and Tajikistan, and touch the strong pulse of jointly building the "the Belt and Road".
Returning to the original site of the Silk Road Economic Belt and looking back at the "long journey" that has been passed in the past 11 years, it is a profound emotion and a stronger confidence.
Kazakhstan has taken the lead in laying cross-border oil and gas pipelines and conducting international production capacity cooperation with China.
"Last year, the bilateral trade volume reached a record breaking 41 billion US dollars." "Currently, 45 joint investment projects totaling 14.5 billion US dollars are underway." "More than 4700 Chinese enterprises are investing and developing in Kazakhstan." A set of practical cooperation data between China and Kazakhstan is familiar to President Tokayev.
Tajikistan is the first country in the world to sign a memorandum of understanding with China to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt.
From industrial cooperation such as Yawan Cement Plant and Dangara Agricultural Textile Industrial Park, to connectivity projects such as the China Tajikistan Highway and Yawan Vakhdat Railway Tunnel, from Tajik cherries and lemons to thousands of households in China, to the Confucius Institute, Luban Workshop, and China Tajikistan TCM Center, the high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" has always been a main line of China Tajikistan cooperation, providing important support for Tajikistan's industrial modernization.
Further integration of development strategies——
The task objectives need to be further improved——
China has become Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, and the two heads of state hope to further enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation, jointly establishing a new goal of doubling trade volume as soon as possible in the future.
China has long been Tajikistan's largest source of investment and one of its major trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching a historic high of nearly 4 billion US dollars in 2023.
Further expansion of cooperation areas is needed——
From economic and trade cooperation to connectivity, from aerospace to educational media... Within the framework of this visit, the two sides have signed over 30 cooperation documents. President Tokayev has special expectations for Kazakhstan China smart agriculture cooperation: "Kazakhstan is very interested in introducing Chinese experience and technology."
What makes people imagine the next "golden decade" of the "the Belt and Road Initiative" is also the impressive "heart to heart connectivity" projects between China and Kazakhstan, and between China and Tajikistan. The people are the foundation, the driving force, and the hope. From the intersection of the people to mutual understanding and then to mutual affinity, the trickle nourishes the soil of friendship and stimulates the energy of cooperation.
The red silk representing China and the blue silk representing Kazakhstan slowly slid down from the golden plaque, injecting new energy into the cultural exchange between China and Kazakhstan.
During the visit, encouraging news came one after another: China has decided to open a second Luban workshop in Kazakhstan and hold the "China Tourism Year" in Kazakhstan next year. Learning Chinese language and technology, drawing on Chinese experience and concepts, or going to China or inviting China in, is the growing "China fever" on the land of Central Asia. It is the growth of friendly cooperation and the desire to work together with China to achieve development and revitalization, and jointly paint a new picture of world modernization.
(III)
70 years ago, in the face of the painful catastrophe of a hot war and the division and confrontation of the Cold War, the newly emerged People's Republic of China gave the historical answer to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence; Today, facing the major issue of "what kind of world to build and how to build this world", China in the new era has provided the answer of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Run forward one stick after another, step after step forward. In the magnificent practice of China's diplomacy as a major country with Chinese characteristics in the new era, China's relations with the world have formed a new pattern, and the international influence, innovative leadership, and moral appeal of China's diplomacy have been elevated to new heights.
A strategic plan with a higher position and broader vision, and a more proactive and proactive responsibility as a major country. This trip to Central Asia saw China and Central Asian countries moving towards each other and working together, laying a solid foundation for future common development.
One is to improve the China Central Asia mechanism.
The China Central Asia mechanism is a joint initiative between China and the five Central Asian countries. In May last year, the mechanism of the China Central Asia summit was officially established. In March of this year, the Secretariat of the China Central Asia Mechanism was officially established. How to take good care of this new platform for neighborly and friendly cooperation in the region, so that it can go more steadily, solidly, and further?
The second China Asia Summit in 2025 will be hosted by Kazakhstan.
The second is to build a "SCO family".
This year's SCO summit can be described as a series of happy events and fruitful results——
Formally approving Belarus as a member state to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, holding its first summit in the form of "Shanghai Cooperation Organization+"
Sign and issue the Astana Declaration, approve the initiative of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on promoting world justice, harmony, and development through solidarity among countries, propose improving the operational mechanism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a series of resolutions related to cooperation in energy, investment, information security, and other fields, and issue a statement on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual trust, and partnership
At the signing ceremony, documents were passed one by one among the leaders of member countries along a large round table. Due to the large number of documents that needed to be signed, the entire process lasted for fifteen minutes.
China's succession as the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for the years 2024-2025 has attracted much attention. Against the backdrop of the continuous growth of the "SCO family", how to achieve organizational unity and development, and gather the "SCO forces" to build a better world is an important mission facing member states.
China has both ideas and actions in this regard.
For example, it is crucial for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to stand on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice for the world; Call for the construction of a common home of unity, mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperous development, good neighborly friendship, fairness and justice.
For example, timely hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Political Party Forum; Determine 2025 as the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Year of Sustainable Development"; Welcome all parties to use the BeiDou satellite navigation system; Initiate the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Digital Education Alliance; In the next 5 years, we will provide 1000 youth exchange opportunities to SCO countries in China
The third is to adapt to the situation and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
The century long changes are accelerating, with various crises and challenges emerging one after another, and humanity is once again standing at a crossroads of where to go.
From the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to the Shanghai Spirit and then to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, the spiritual core is inherited in one continuous line.
We must adhere to true multilateralism.
We must advocate for an equal and orderly world with multipolarity and inclusive economic globalization, and promote global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction.
During a press conference with President Tokayev, China announced: "China supports Kazakhstan's accession to the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism, playing the role of a 'medium-sized power' on the international stage, and making its due contribution to global governance."
During a meeting with Russian President Putin, China stated, "China supports Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities as the rotating presidency of the BRICS countries, uniting the 'global south', preventing the 'new Cold War', and opposing illegal unilateral sanctions and hegemonism."
When meeting with President Erdogan of Türkiye, he stressed that "China and Turkey are both major developing countries and members of the 'Global South', and have broad consensus in pursuing the development and revitalization of their respective countries and safeguarding the norms of international relations."
"Establishing the position of the world and following the path of the world." All parties have a greater recognition of China's initiative and a greater reliance on China's role.
Facing the brilliant sunshine, a silver white special plane took off in Dushanbe and flew to the east. The call of the times to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind echoes in the hearts of the people of Central Asia and the Eurasian continent...
Edit：He Chuanning Responsible editor：Su Suiyue
Source：Xinhua
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