On December 1, 2024, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chengdu. Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovich, Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov attended the meeting. The six foreign ministers had in-depth communication on implementing the outcomes of the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit and promoting China-Central Asia cooperation in an all-round way, and made comprehensive political preparations for the second summit next year.

Wang Yi said that four years ago, in response to the overriding historical trend and practical needs of China-Central Asia cooperation, the China-Central Asia mechanism was established. This new mechanism is rooted in their thousands of years of friendly exchanges and carries the bright expectations of the six countries for future cooperation. Over the past four years, the six countries, driven by good neighborliness, solidarity, and pragmatism, have worked together to promote the development and growth of the mechanism. The mechanism has stood out among many similar platforms, demonstrating strong vitality and vigorous momentum.

In May of last year, the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit was successfully held in Xi'an, which officially upgraded the China-Central Asia mechanism to the heads-of-state level, marking the beginning of a new era in the development of China-Central Asia relations. For more than a year, outcomes of the Xi'an Summit were implemented at an accelerated pace, with over half of the items already in place or making substantial progress, and major projects were launched one after another. Ministerial meeting platforms have been established successively by the six countries in areas such as economy, trade, customs, agriculture, transportation, and industrial investment, with the institutional framework for China-Central Asia cooperation continuing to improve. Cultural and people-to-people interactions have become closer, and personnel exchange between China and Central Asia have become more convenient and smoother. China and Central Asia enjoy a deep traditional friendship and share similar development concepts. The vast emerging market and valuable cooperation resources created as a result have laid a solid foundation and provided strong support for effective cooperation and common development between the two sides. China is ready to deepen solidarity and cooperation with Central Asian countries, enhance synergy of development strategies, and jointly push forward the comprehensive and sustained advancement of China-Central Asia cooperation.

First, follow the guidance of heads of state to ensure the right path is followed. According to the blueprint outlined by the heads of state of the six countries, China and Central Asia should continue to implement the consensus reached at the Xi'an Summit, meticulously prepare for the second summit to be held next year in Kazakhstan, comprehensively plan the next phase of China-Central Asia cooperation, and further improve the China-Central Asia mechanism.

Second, prioritize development to ensure the right path is pursued swiftly. Both sides should focus on six priority areas for cooperation, including unimpeded trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agriculture, and the facilitation of people-to-people exchanges. These efforts will collectively elevate the level of China-Central Asia cooperation and implement the Global Development Initiative through concrete actions. Efforts will be made to introduce more measures to facilitate and liberalize trade, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, enhance the technological content of cooperation, and facilitate the modernization of industries on both sides. A comprehensive and multi-dimensional connectivity network between China and Central Asia will be developed, with the new Sichuan-Central Asia highway shuttle bus launched, striving to cover major cities in all Central Asian countries within three years, to strengthen cooperation in port, freight train, and cross-border railway construction.

Third, commit to shared security to ensure the path remains stable. Both sides should effectively implement the Global Security Initiative, deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, work together to address crises and challenges, and safeguard a stable and peaceful development environment for the six countries. China firmly supports the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Central Asian countries, supports Central Asian countries in seeking strength through unity, opposes external interference in the internal affairs of Central Asian countries, and will never allow any forces to create chaos and turmoil in the region.

Fourth, maintain everlasting friendship to ensure the path extends far. Both sides should jointly promote the Global Civilization Initiative, uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and perpetuate the principles of good-neighborliness, friendship, and everlasting peace. Efforts will be made to establish more institutions such as Luban Workshops, traditional medicine centers, and cultural centers, strengthen talent training, promote local cooperation, encourage more twinning between provinces and states, and cultivate a strong foundation of public friendship between the two sides.

Fifth, adhere to multilateralism to ensure the path is broad. Both sides should reject all forms of decoupling, any severing of industrial and supply chains, and the "small yard and high fence" approach, facilitate cooperation of the Global South, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China is ready to take the opportunity of assuming the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to work with Central Asian countries, pushing for substantial progress in SCO cooperation across various fields, and enhancing the organization's unity, cohesion, and influence.

The foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries highly praised the meeting, stating that for a long time, China has treated Central Asian countries as equals, with mutual respect, establishing a high level of trust, engaging in extensive cooperation, and setting a model for neighborly relations. With the joint efforts of the six countries, the China-Central Asia mechanism has become an efficient platform for promoting regional cooperation and achieved fruitful results. The China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an held in May of last year was of landmark significance. The Central Asian countries agreed with the various cooperation initiatives proposed by China. They are ready to commit themselves to lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, and strengthen and deepen strategic mutual trust; jointly advance the Belt and Road cooperation with high quality, and expand comprehensive, high-level cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, connectivity, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy and minerals, poverty reduction, education, and digitalization; enhance law enforcement and security cooperation, and jointly combat the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and maintain regional peace and stability; stay committed to the shared cause of friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. The Central Asian countries fully support China's assumption of the rotating presidency of the SCO and are ready to jointly promote further development of the organization.

The foreign ministers of the six countries unanimously agreed to hold a cooperation-themed year every two years to support the high-quality development of China-Central Asia cooperation.

After the meeting, the foreign ministers of the six countries signed and issued a joint statement.