Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Monday in Astana, Kazakhstan to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit which kicks off on Tuesday.
“As a neighbor to China, it is logical and wise for us to strengthen our cooperation, said Djoomart Otorbaev, former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan.
One of the most significant projects is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, Otorbaev said, pointing out that this will shorten the route between China and Europe by 900 kilometers.
Construction of the railway with a speed of 120 km per hour is expected to begin this year under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
As Central Asian countries are landlocked, Otorbaev noted that this geographic reality shapes their mindset and foreign policy. “The peculiarity of being landlocked is that we must be friendly with all of our neighbors.”
That’s why we don’t get caught up in political conspiracies or ideologies. We prioritize friendship and open economic relations with countries around the world, Otorbaev said.
“We already enjoy strong economic ties with Russia—Russia is currently our second-largest trading partner after China. And we see no reason why this balanced approach shouldn’t continue.”
The stable strategic partnership between China and Russia also creates a positive environment for our own cooperation with both, Otorbaev noted.
“We’re not building friendships to oppose anyone. Our goal is simple: peaceful and mutually beneficial relations with all partners. That’s the path we’ve chosen, and it’s the one we will continue to follow for many years to come,” he said.
