China News Agency, Beijing, July 16 (Xinhua) On July 16, "China + Five Central Asian Countries" held their first foreign ministers' meeting via video. A joint statement issued by all parties stated that in the process of responding to the pandemic, there should be no discrimination, stigmatization, racism and xenophobia.

  Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and presided over the meeting. Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Treuberdi, Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Aydarbekov, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Mohridin, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Meledov, Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Kamilov attended.

  The joint statement stated that all parties unanimously emphasized that the spread of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic spreads globally and poses huge threats and severe challenges to countries around the world. It pointed out that in the process of responding to the pandemic, there should be no discrimination, stigmatization, racism and Xenophobia. All parties are willing to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as epidemic prevention and control, vaccine research and development, traditional medicine, and build a China-Central Asia high-efficiency partnership in the field of health, and carry out close collaboration with international organizations such as the World Health Organization.

  The statement said that China is committed to establishing "fast lanes" with Central Asian countries to facilitate the exchange of business personnel and production technicians, and unimpeded "green lanes" that simplify the cross-border movement of goods.

  The statement pointed out that all parties will actively expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as e-commerce, smart cities, artificial intelligence and big data technology applications, and jointly create digital partnerships.

  According to the statement, all parties are willing to further strengthen cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations and financial institutions, jointly address global and regional challenges, firmly defend multilateralism, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, maintain international fairness and justice, and promote international order and global The governance system is developing in a more just and reasonable direction.

  Focusing on pushing all parties to expand mutually beneficial cooperation under the new situation, working together to meet challenges and safeguard common interests, all parties decided to establish a "China + five Central Asian countries" foreign ministers meeting mechanism. The parties agreed that the "China + Five Central Asian Countries" foreign ministers meeting will be held in principle once a year, and the parties may negotiate and adopt flexible ways to hold the meeting as the situation requires. (Finish)