China To Host First Meet With Central Asia

China To Host First Meet With  Central Asia

Context:

To strengthen its position in the region, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a two-day meeting in Beijing with the heads of state of five Central Asian countries.

Points to Ponder:

  • In Xi’an, China, from May 18 to 19, President Xi Jinping will host a two-day meeting with the leaders of five Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are the participating nations.
  • The summit, which aims to improve political and economic ties between China and the Central Asian nations, is the first of its type since formal contacts were established 31 years ago.
  • To access the natural gas deposits in Central Asia, China has made massive investments. China, the world’s greatest energy consumer, is thought to rely heavily on the region as a source of energy.
  • As a result of the region’s numerous rail connections to Europe and China, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China places strategic importance on it. A trillion-dollar international infrastructure initiative called the BRI aims to strengthen China’s commercial and economic relations with nations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and other continents.
  • The conference is also seen as an effort by China to counteract Russia’s long-standing hegemony in the area. Since the middle of the 19th century, Russia has exerted influence on the Central Asian nations that were previously a part of the Soviet Union. However, since it invaded Ukraine, notably, Russia’s influence in the region has come under scrutiny.
  • The international community and its neighbours have expressed considerable alarm over China’s growing influence in Central Asia. According to some observers, China might use it to assert its territorial claims and geopolitical clout outside of its borders.
  • President Xi Jinping is scheduled to give a keynote address and sign significant political papers with the Central Asian leaders during the meeting. Although the specifics of the agreements and documents have not been made public, they are likely to centre on infrastructure development, commerce, and economic cooperation.
  • In conclusion, the China-Central Asia Summit is an important occasion designed to deepen China’s diplomatic and economic ties with the five Central Asian nations. Additionally, China is attempting to undermine Russia’s long-standing hegemony in the area by stepping up its influence there. The summit’s agreements and papers are anticipated to increase economic cooperation and commerce while solidifying China’s position in Central Asia.

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