China-Central Asia Spirit provides strong impetus for regional development: former Kyrgyz FM

Representatives from local Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese overseas students line the streets to warmly welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping when Xi's motorcade is on its way from the airport to the hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The China-Central Asia Spirit proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Second China-Central Asia Summit embodies the essence of the long-standing friendship and comprehensive cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Alikbek Dzhekshenkulov has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Dzhekshenkulov said that based on mutual respect and trust, the China-Central Asia Spirit focuses on mutual benefit and assistance, and promotes the high-quality development and modernization of the region.

Mutual respect and trust emphasize the equality of sovereignty and the respect for each country's independent choice of development path, he said, adding that mutual benefit and assistance reflect the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, while the joint pursuit of modernization illustrates a shared aspiration for common prosperity -- all of which contribute to regional development under initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

"This spirit will become a powerful engine for future cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, contributing to the formation of a closer community with a shared future," he said.

Speaking about a treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries signed during the summit, Dzhekshenkulov said the treaty strengthens strategic trust, stimulates integration development and creates a new model of diplomacy among neighbors, offering a stellar example for international relations.

"This treaty not only lays the cornerstone for relations between China and Central Asian countries in the new era, but also demonstrates the vitality of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind," he said. "In the future, it will continuously encourage the region to become an important platform for peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and harmonious coexistence of civilizations."

The three global initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, as well as the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, have demonstrated China's firm commitment to peace and development, he added.

"The Global Development Initiative is aimed at eliminating the development gap and promoting inclusive globalization, which is especially important in the post-pandemic era. The Global Security Initiative offers a Chinese solution to overcome the security deficit, emphasizing dialogue instead of confrontation," Dzhekshenkulov said.

"The Global Civilization Initiative protects the diversity of civilizations," he added.

These initiatives contribute to the reform of the global governance system, ensuring a multipolar world and universal benefit, which is fully in line with the general expectations of the international community, he said.