The China-Central Asia Summit is Expected to Boost Global Confidence in Jointly Addressing Common Challenges

Maryam Raza, former Deputy Director of Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF)

The first China-Central Asia Summit is going to take place in the most crucial time of socioeconomic and political developments in the world. President Xi Jinping is going to host and chair the two-day summit (18-19 May 2023). The Belt & Road Initiative put forward by President Xi to enhance multilateral engagements will significantly boost its implement in Central Asia. BRI is not just infrastructural development project but now has moves beyond its agenda by incorporating other pillars, i.e., cultural integration, socioeconomic development, knowledge sharing, etc. Thus, this summit will build blocks for greater cooperation in many fields. The participation of high-level dignitaries and Head of states clearly depicts trust in the Chinese leadership to explore more avenues of cooperation. 

I believe that China-Central Asia cooperation can be expanded by tapping natural gas reservoirs in Central Asia as well as economic empowerment via trade/transit routes. The rail links connecting China to Europe criss-cross the region are fundamental for the success of BRI’s infrastructure project. Countries, including Kazakhstan, can become major beneficiaries to such important railroad projects. Another significant area can be explored via digital diplomacy. It is an uphill journey and may require extensive practical structure in a longer-run. But, China has indeed proved a leader in technological development. Thus, this can provide Central Asian states a great opportunity to collaborate with China and share expertise in this field. Amid these dynamics, it is also expected that significant MOUs will be inked during the summit, which can provide a new paradigm shift for all parties involved. 

In the aspect of peace development in Central Asia, China has undoubtedly been playing a crucial role for peace advocacy globally. Soft power diplomacy remained the key factor of the China’s foreign policy. The peaceful development path is consistent and built on China’s fine traditional culture and legacy. The leadership cherishes peace and stability within and outside the country.

The five central Asian countries and China enjoy exchanges and mutual learning and have ushered in a new era of cooperation under the three grand initiatives put forward by President Xi. Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative clearly manifest that China will integrate global community to work cohesively. These projects will mitigate inequality and assist in realizing the dream of development by reiterating the principles and spirit of BRI. These initiatives will also be expanded to Central Asian and countries can learn and grow together as these projects are under the umbrella of BRI. Under all these assertions, it can be easily anticipated that China will experience a golden era with many interesting events and new programs that will steer other regional states on the path of collaboration. Openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning are the defining features of upcoming China-Central Asia Summit.

At present, China is in its best period of development in modern times, while the world is undergoing the most profound and unprecedented changes in a century. These two realities are intertwined and mutually influential. There are, therefore, many favorable external conditions for successfully carrying out diplomatic work both at present and in the period ahead, along with the vision of building a community with shared future. To establish a global vision to better achieve set targets is crucial to tackling common challenges with a shared approach.

Amid the global chaos, this summit brings a hope to eradicate common challenges with a shared-forward looking spirit. A strong engagement under China-Central Asia community with a shared future can be expected as a road map for future collaboration and increasing efforts in joint ventures like educational exchanges, removing cultural/language barriers, and work on an integrated agenda for socioeconomic development. However, it will need due diligence, meetings, comprehensive agendas to expand the vision of shared future to Central Asia, deliberations, meetings, and knowledge sharing by all governments. Thus, this summit would be a key platform to initiate such practices and commit to a policy direction to address common issues.

(Author: Ms. Maryam Raza)

Note: The author is an International Relations expert with special focus on China, Eurasian region, South Asia, National security strategy and SDGs. Ms. Maryam also a former Deputy Director of Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad.