Joining Hands for Win - China Central Asia Cooperation is Steadily Moving Forward in High Level Openness

On the morning of the 19th, the Central Asian Park, covering an area of approximately 800 acres, was completed and opened in Xi'an, becoming a new window for cultural exchange between Xi'an and Central Asia.

The first China Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an in May 2023 has become a milestone in the history of bilateral relations, building a new platform for cooperation between the two sides, and ushering in a new era of China Central Asian relations. In the past year, China Central Asia cooperation has developed rapidly and presented a good momentum of comprehensive promotion, and the China Central Asia community with a shared future has become even closer.

More interconnected channels

Since April this year, Gao Long, the chief representative of the Uzbekistan China Tourism Development Association in China, has been extremely busy. "From the Canton Fair in April to the Shanghai International Tourism Fair in May, our association has been actively participating in economic, trade, and cultural exchange activities." Gao Long said that now not only are more and more Chinese companies consulting the association on how to invest in Central Asia, but Central Asian companies are also full of motivation to expand the Chinese market.

The increasingly improved transportation conditions have made communication between China and Central Asian countries more convenient, and 52 year old Gao Long has a deep understanding of this. "In 1991, I went to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to study abroad. At that time, it took 6 days and 5 nights to travel from Xi'an to Bishkek. Due to inconvenient transportation, many international students only returned to their country once every two to three years." Gao Long sighed. Currently, cities such as Xi'an, Urumqi, and Chengdu have opened flights to Central Asia, "bringing China closer to Central Asia.". "Last year, more than 6000 people went to Uzbekistan through our association to participate in business and tourism activities, and this year's number is expected to be even higher," he said.

The Silk Road in the air is weaving more and more densely, and the steel camel caravan on land is galloping endlessly. Thanks to the convenient services of the China Europe freight train, the freight volume of the China Kazakhstan railway increased by 22% in 2023, reaching 28 million tons.

At the Xi'an Port in Kazakhstan, located at the Xi'an International Port Station, Chinese made new energy vehicles that are about to be shipped to Kazakhstan shine brightly in the sunlight.

In February of this year, as one of the important cooperation achievements of the China Asia Summit, the Kazakhstan Xi'an Port, jointly constructed by Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. and Harbin Railway Express Co., Ltd., was officially put into operation. Up to now, more than 18000 tons of goods have been transshipped at the Kazakhstan Xi'an Port.

"The Xi'an Port in Kazakhstan has significantly improved the shipping efficiency of trains from Xi'an to Central Asia, and is becoming a new highlight of win-win trade cooperation between China and Kazakhstan," said Xie Tian, General Manager of China Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Commercial Logistics Co., Ltd., the operator of the Xi'an Port.

Trade is smoother

In the Love Chrysanthemum Health Life Experience Hall located at the Chanba International Port in Xi'an, there is a wide variety of products from Central Asian countries, such as beer, honey, biscuits, candies, etc. Customers who inquire and purchase are constantly coming. Before this year's May Day holiday, the experience center imported ice cream from Kazakhstan for the first time, giving many Xi'an citizens the opportunity to taste different flavors of summer coolness.

"Most of the imported food from Central Asia comes back from 'sitting' on the China Europe freight train. Among the sales of our experience center, Central Asian products account for more than 40%." Liu Dongmeng, Deputy General Manager of Aiju Group, said that since the China Central Asia Summit, the awareness of Xi'an citizens towards Central Asian countries has significantly increased, driving the sales of high-quality Central Asian products.

After purchasing the goods, citizen Chen Feng went to the food district of the experience hall and ordered a "Biangbiang Noodle". "I heard that the noodles here are made from flour produced in Kazakhstan, so I want to try them fresh." Chen Feng said that being able to experience the flavor of Central Asia at his doorstep allowed him to experience the benefits of open communication.

"More and more goods from Central Asia are taking the China Europe freight train to China, enriching consumers' shopping choices," said Yuan Xiaojun, General Manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd.

The Alashankou Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which borders Central Asia, is busy at dawn every day. In the first four months of this year, there were 2489 China Europe (Central Asia) freight trains passing through the Alashankou Railway Port, a year-on-year increase of 17.1%.

Commercial circulation and mutual exchange. At the end of 2023, 32 tons of Yan'an apples will be exported to Kazakhstan through Khorgos Port, which is the first time that Yan'an apples are exported to Central Asian countries. Xi'an Sanqin Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. plans to sell kiwifruit to the Central Asian market this year. Company manager Chen Bo said, "Central Asia is located in the hinterland of the Eurasian continent, and we hope to use this transit station to expand our market."

China's economic and trade cooperation with Central Asian countries goes beyond agricultural products. In the workshop of Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group Co., Ltd. located in Xi'an, heavy-duty trucks are being assembled on the production line. In 2023, Shaanxi Automobile exported over 7500 vehicles to Central Asian countries, a year-on-year increase of 110%.

More and more "Made in China" products such as daily necessities, electromechanical equipment, electronic products, and agricultural and sideline products are moving towards Central Asia. Data shows that in 2023, the trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries reached 89.4 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 27%.

People's hearts are more connected

22-year-old Dinaz will come to Northwestern Polytechnical University for a one-year study in September this year. "I can't wait to go to Xi'an, where I can not only do research in advanced laboratories, but also appreciate the culture of the ancient city of Xi'an and taste the delicious food on the streets and alleys." Dinaz is full of anticipation for her upcoming journey to study abroad.

On October 12, 2023, the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University, established in cooperation with Ali Farabi Kazakh National University, was officially opened. Dinazi was the first batch of master's students admitted to the campus. After graduation, she will be awarded dual master's degrees from Northwestern Polytechnical University and Ali Farabi Kazakh National University.

The Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University is a fruitful result of educational exchanges between the two sides, and also a microcosm of the continuous deepening of cultural cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. China has become one of the main destinations for students from Central Asian countries to study abroad.

Khorgos, a port and trade center open to the west in China, is located in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan. At more than 10 a.m., tourists have lined up outside the accreditation hall of China Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center. Tourists from China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are constantly coming in, and border shopping and tourism are thriving.

Within a fully enclosed area of 5.6 square kilometers in the cooperation center, citizens of China, Kazakhstan, and third countries can enter and exit without a visa with their passports or entry and exit permits. Each person in the center has a daily duty-free shopping allowance of 8000 RMB.

With the implementation of the visa free agreement between China and Kazakhstan, more and more tourists are coming to the cooperation center for shopping and sightseeing.

In March of this year, the Secretariat of the China Central Asia Mechanism was officially launched, once again demonstrating to the international community the firm determination of the six countries to work together for development and cooperation.

During the Vixia season, Central Asian parks are lush with greenery. The reporter saw on site that the park has a Central Asian clothing exhibition and sales area, a Central Asian specialty catering district, and themed sculptures, attracting many tourists and citizens to stop and admire.

At the opening ceremony of the Central Asian Park held on the morning of the 19th, Wu Yingqin, Executive Director of the Secretariat of the China Central Asia Mechanism, said, "In recent years, there have been more and more cultural symbols that symbolize friendly exchanges between China and Central Asian countries, and the concept of building a closer China Central Asian community with a shared future has become more deeply rooted in people's hearts."