MOSCOW, June 18 -- The cooperation between China and Central Asian countries will gain fresh momentum after Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, experts have said.
In the face of changes in the international situation, China's relations with Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have continued to develop in a stable and healthy manner and will see more fruitful cooperation in various areas, they said.
ENHANCED TIES
Xi's visit has promoted China-Kyrgyzstan relations to a new level as his visit has not only strengthened bilateral ties at the strategic level, but also brought the two peoples closer, said Aibolot Aidosov, director of the Public Foundation of the Kyrgyz Media Center.
"The friendship between our countries is developing and increasing. I think we just started to do this," Aidosov said, adding that he expects more practical projects to be implemented under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
"President Xi's visit to Kyrgyzstan was an indicator of good relations between our countries. Our partnership is growing and we have no obstacles to further develop it," said Kuban Taabaldiev, head of the Kyrgyz National News Agency.
China-Tajikistan ties were inspired by President Xi's state visit, said Komron Hidoytzoda, deputy head of the Department for the study of Regional Security Problems, the Center for Strategic Studies under the Tajik president.
"The trip was very important for giving new status to bilateral relations, which now cover almost all spheres from the economy to the joint fight against terrorism, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking. It opened a new page in bilateral ties," he said.
GREAT POTENTIAL
China-Kyrgyzstan cooperation is fruitful in politics, trade and economy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and the potential is great for more cooperation, said Muratbek Imanaliyev, former foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz analyst Irina Orolbaeva said the two countries' partnership in agriculture, among many sectors, is mutually beneficial as it enables Chinese consumers to access high-quality Kyrgyz farm produce and Kyrgyz farmers to profit from the huge Chinese market.
"We will expect more joint projects in the economic sustainable development dimension, human dimension and environmental dimension," said Zulaykho Usmanova, senior researcher at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Law under the Tajik Academy of Sciences.
"We are doing everything to link the BRI with Tajikistan's national development strategy for the period up to 2030. We are certainly glad of such cooperation," Hidoytzoda said.
"China, as a fast-growing economy, thanks to its peaceful culture, is trying to ensure not only its own development, but also help other countries, especially those in Central Asia, achieve equal sustainable development," said Rustam Haydarov, deputy director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Law under the Tajik Academy of Sciences.