Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for a state visit and a regional summit, at a time when China is intensifying its diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, as reported by AFP via Agerpres.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Xi Jinping was welcomed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to Chinese state television CCTV. The presidential plane had been escorted by two Kazakh military fighter jets upon entering the country’s airspace, the same source reported.
During his fifth visit to Kazakhstan, the Chinese leader will attend the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held in Astana.
Following this, Xi Jinping will embark on a state visit to Tajikistan until Saturday, as stated by the official Xinhua agency.
President Xi Jinping is accompanied by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to the agency.
The permanent member states of the SCO are Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and since last year, Iran. Together, they represent half of the world’s population.
This year, Belarus is set to become a member as well, a decision announced during the 2023 SCO summit, held virtually in India.
This year’s summit aims to “strengthen consensus among all parties and promote the security, stability, and development of member countries,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ensuring “sustainable peace and common prosperity worldwide.”
The Astana stage will also provide an opportunity for “in-depth discussions” with the Kazakh President “on bilateral relations, cooperation in key sectors, and the regional and international landscape,” she added.
In Tajikistan, where Xi Jinping will make his second visit, he will work with his counterpart on “strengthening relations between China and Tajikistan,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Recently, Beijing has intensified its diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, with President Xi Jinping calling for deeper economic ties during a summit hosted in China in May, attended by leaders from several regional countries.
State visits are organized at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, according to Xinhua.
Central Asia plays a crucial role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a vast infrastructure project launched ten years ago under Xi Jinping’s initiative.
Beijing seeks to leverage its presence in the region amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has raised concerns among former Soviet states about an increasingly assertive Russia.
At the conclusion of the Astana summit, China will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO for the period 2024-2025.
