asia: China to hold its Central Asian meet ahead of India’s summit – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the first India-Central Asia summit, China will virtually host its own summit with the five central Asian countries — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan — on Tuesday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides.
President Xi Jinping will chair the summit, said Chinese foreign ministry, adding that this will be China’s first major diplomatic action “facing central Asia” this year and the first heads-of-state meeting between China and the five countries. Significantly, it comes just two days ahead of India’s scheduled first-ever summit with the same countries on January 27.
The government had last week said the first India-Central Asia Summit was a reflection of India’s growing engagement with the central Asian countries. India had also proposed a visit by the central Asian leaders for a summit meeting with PM Narendra Modi and also for participation in the Republic Day parade as chief guests.
The visit couldn’t take place because of a surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi and India last week announced that Modi will chair the summit virtually on January 27.
Beijing said the China summit was of great significance for all sides “to take stock of the achievements and experience of China-central Asia relations” and seek coordination and make plans for future bilateral cooperation “across the board at a new historical starting point”.
“During the summit, President Xi and heads of state of the five central Asian countries will deliver remarks to jointly review the journey traversed by China and the five Central Asian countries in growing their relations, look back on major achievements in the bilateral cooperation, summarise the successful experience and paint a blueprint for their cooperation going forward,” said the spokesperson.