Xi Jinping pledges US$500 million in aid for Central Asian nations

President Xi Jinping has pledged US$500 million in aid to Central Asian nations, saying China will support them to "walk their own paths" and defend their sovereignty.

Xi announced the aid on Tuesday during a virtual meeting with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

He said the funds would be provided "in the next three years, to be used on projects involving people's livelihoods", according to state broadcaster CCTV.

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The Chinese president called for more strategic communication to build trust and unity in the region and to pursue "mutual prosperity" and development.

He also hit out at interference by other nations, saying Beijing "resolutely opposes using human rights as an excuse to intervene in domestic politics" and that the six countries had together helped to ensure peace and stability in the region.

The meeting marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between China and the five nations since they gained independence from the Soviet Union.

"No matter how international politics evolves, no matter to what degree China's development reaches, China will always be a reliable and trustworthy neighbour, partner, friend and brother to Central Asian countries," Xi was quoted as saying.

"China resolutely supports Central Asian countries to walk their own paths. China will resolutely support these countries to defend their own sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and to pursue rejuvenation of their civilisations and unity ... [and] to play greater roles on the global stage."

The virtual talks marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between China and the five Central Asian nations. Photo: Handout alt=The virtual talks marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between China and the five Central Asian nations. Photo: Handout>

In addition to the financial aid, Xi said China would provide 50 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the five nations this year and that it was willing to transfer vaccine production technology.

The president said Beijing was ready to open its "mega market" to agricultural exports from Central Asia, push forward the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, and expand cooperation on energy and technology in areas such as AI, big data and cloud services.

With the Beijing Winter Olympics due to begin next week, all five Central Asian leaders confirmed during the meeting that they would attend the opening ceremony of the Games on February 4, according to CCTV. They will be among a small number of leaders expected to attend the event in person amid the coronavirus pandemic and a diplomatic boycott by countries including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia.

China has been seeking closer ties - in areas from security to economic cooperation - in Central Asia, but it appears to be taking a measured approach in a region that is seen as part of Russia's sphere of influence.

Beijing voiced support for the Russian-led forces sent to Kazakhstan to help quell anti-government protests, triggered by rising fuel prices, earlier this month. Xi has also backed President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, saying Beijing resolutely opposed any force seeking to destabilise Kazakhstan.

On Tuesday, Xi also called for more regional cooperation on border control and combating the "three evils" - referring to terrorism, extremism and separatism.

China, which borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, has institutionalised security efforts through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, a regional body it leads with Russia. The focus has been on countering Islamic radicalism, which China has blamed for attacks in its far western Xinjiang region - where Beijing has been accused of human rights abuses against Uygurs and other Muslim minorities. China has denied the accusations and says its policies in the region are aimed at combating extremism.

The SCO conducts annual counterterrorism military drills, and China's People's Liberation Army has also been working separately with its Central Asian counterparts to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation.

Beijing is also reportedly providing US$8.5 million to build a base for police in Tajikistan near the Afghan border, a Tajik official said in December.

Why China is funding a base in Tajikistan

Meanwhile, Chinese investment in the region has expanded. It has now surpassed Russia's in almost all Central Asian countries, which have been largely dependent on China for economic growth in recent years.

Chinese direct foreign investment in the five nations reached US$14.7 billion in 2018, according to the latest data from China's Ministry of Commerce. That was 1.2 per cent of all Chinese investment in Asia that year and a 40 per cent jump from the US$8.9 billion recorded in 2013.

China also depends on Central Asia to supply natural gas imports via a pipeline that began operating in 2009 - it starts from the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border, runs through Kazakhstan and ends in Xinjiang.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2022 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2022. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.