Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (May 18th) hailed the entry into a "new era" in relations between his country and Central Asia, at the opening in China of an unprecedented summit with these five ex-Soviet republics.

Intended to strengthen economic and cultural ties with these nations traditionally closer to Moscow than Beijing, this major meeting is organized at a time when Joe Biden meets in Japan with the leaders of the G7.

This is the very first edition of this "China-Central Asia summit" since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992 between the Asian giant and these republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) after the fall of the USSR.

Symbolic choice: this meeting described as "extremely important" by Beijing is held in the historic city of Xi'an, the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road that linked Europe and China via Central Asia.

Xi Jinping welcomed the five presidents in the evening in front of a grandiose old-style Chinese building lit by red lanterns. Dozens of dancers then performed a colorful musical show inspired by the Tang Dynasty (618-907), another symbol because China-Central Asia ties were particularly strong at that time.

"I am confident that our shared commitment will make tomorrow's summit a great success and usher in a new era" for the relationship, Xi told his five counterparts at a welcome dinner.

"China sincerely invites" these countries to "board the express train of its development to build a better future together," he said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Formerly members of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, these nations maintain privileged economic, linguistic and diplomatic ties with Moscow.

But with the war in Ukraine, Russian influence has waned. A relative void that the Chinese president is willing to fill.

An anti-G7 summit

"Xi Jinping will present himself as a leader who can promote development and peace in the world," Zhiqun Zhu, a professor of international relations at Bucknell University in the United States, told AFP.

Coincidence (or not) of the calendar: a summit of G7 leaders (Canada, France, United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom) opens Friday in Hiroshima, in the presence of US President Joe Biden – whose country regularly portrays Beijing as a threat.

The Japanese event will be devoted to establishing a common strategy in the face of China's growing influence in the world.

On the other hand, the "diplomatic and strategic importance" of the unprecedented meeting held in Xi'an on Thursday and Friday "should not be underestimated," said Zhiqun Zhu.

"The China-Central Asia summit shows that China's rejuvenation cannot be hindered and enjoys strong support in Central Asia and elsewhere in developing countries."

China estimates that its trade with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan reached 70 billion dollars (64 billion euros) last year and climbed 22% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023.

"New Silk Roads"

Central Asia occupies a major place in China's "New Silk Road" initiative, also known as the Belt and Road.

Embodied by Xi Jinping who launched it at the end of 2013, this pharaonic program intends to develop, thanks to Chinese funds, roads, ports, railways and infrastructure abroad. The Asian giant has already invested billions of euros to exploit natural gas reserves in Central Asia and build rail links linking China to Europe via the region.

The summit is an opportunity to advance certain projects, such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway line or the extension of the oil pipeline between Central Asia and China.

Xi told his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov on Thursday that China is "willing to work with Kyrgyzstan to build a community of good neighborliness, friendship, shared prosperity and common future."

The Chinese president made similar remarks to his Uzbek counterparts Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik Emomali Rahmon and Turkmen Serdar Berdymukhamedov, calling for promoting economic and cultural relations.

The main announcements of the summit are expected to come on Friday, including a meeting between the six presidents and the press.

With AFP

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