Chinese FM stresses China's support to Central Asian countries

China stands ready to support the development of Central Asian countries, said visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Sunday.

Wang made the remarks while meeting the press along with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Erlan Abdyldaev, after the two foreign ministers concluded their talks.

The year of 2016, which marks the 25th anniversary of the independence of the five Central Asian countries, is of great significance to linking the past and the future, said Wang.

During the past 25 years, the regional countries have made remarkable achievements in various aspects, such as political stability, economic development, improvement of the people's livelihood, as well as diplomatic activities, said Wang.

Within the context of a sluggish economic recovery, growing regional security challenges, as well as a trend of diversification of social thoughts, the urgent tasks that the Central Asian countries are facing include promoting reform, maintaining stability and realizing sustainable development, he said.

Wang stressed that China, as a sincere friend and strategic partner to Central Asian countries, supports them in seeking development paths that accord with their own respective national conditions and that will benefit their own peoples and serve their long-term interests.

China, he said, supports the Central Asian countries in safeguarding their sovereignty, dependence and territorial integrity as well as their legitimate rights in regional and international affairs.

China supports Central Asian countries in properly resolving historical issues through friendly dialogue in accordance with bilateral and multilateral agreements, so as to unite their efforts in safeguarding regional peace and stability, said the top Chinese diplomat.

He added that China supports the Central Asian countries in having a deeper participation into cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

As this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO, China, Wang underlined, is willing to take this opportunity, along with Russia, to summarize past achievements and make plans for the future, in a bid to turn the dual wheels of security cooperation and economic development moving in an effective and pragmatic way.

China, Wang noted, is willing to use the SCO as a platform to speed up the dovetailing of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union.

He suggested that emphasis be put on production capacity cooperation and inter-connectivity, and through trade and investment facilitation, joint efforts be made in advancing regional economic integration, so as to jointly promote development and prosperity of the Central Asian region. Endi