Central Asian nations back Beijing’s 'one-China stand' amid tensions with US

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping's meetings with his Central Asian counterparts in Uzbekistan’s historic city of Samarkand on Thursday saw a reiteration of the “one-China principle” as the Chinese president supported the sovereignty of Central Asian nations.

On his first overseas trip since January 2020 after pandemic-forced border closures, Xi met presidents of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan after paying a state visit to Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Samarkand will host a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) from today where heads of state and governments will come together for the annual meet.

The Chinese president reiterated to work with all SCO parties to “carry forward the Shanghai spirit, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the sound and steady development of the SCO.”

Reiteration of the one-China principle comes amid tensions in Taiwan Strait since early August when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid an unannounced trip to Taiwan against the wishes of Beijing which launched massive military drills around the self-ruled island.

“Kyrgyzstan firmly abides by the one-China principle, firmly maintains that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and firmly supports China’s stance on issues concerning China’s core interests such as the issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong,” Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov told Xi in Samarkand on Thursday.

A Chinese readout of the joint statement said Kyrgyzstan was “ready to work with China to strengthen cooperation in economy and trade, railway, COVID-19 and security among other fields and deepen Kyrgyzstan-China comprehensive strategic partnership.”

“The Kyrgyz side will work closely with the Chinese side to make the SCO an anchor for security and stability in Central Asia and jointly safeguard regional security and stability,” Zhaparov told Xi.

- ‘China a friend, partner to rely on’

Xi, during a bilateral meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart, said China “supports Kyrgyzstan’s independently chosen development path, supports Kyrgyzstan in defending national independence, sovereignty and security and opposes interference in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs by any external forces under whatever pretext.”

“China has been and will always be a friend and partner that Kyrgyzstan can trust and rely on.”

The Chinese president reached Nur Sultan on Wednesday where he was received by Kazakh counterpart Qasym-Jomart Toqayev.

After a grand reception, Xi was conferred with the Order of the Golden Eagle, or “Altyn Qyran” Order by Toqayev at the Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Nur Sultan.

Assuring support to each other on territorial integrity, the Kazakh side said Taiwan was “an inalienable part of China's territory” and it “opposes ‘Taiwan independence’ in all forms, and supports peaceful development of cross-Straits relations as well as all efforts by the Chinese government to realize the peaceful reunification of China.”

This year marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“The two countries agreed to ensure long-term stable operation and supply of the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline and the Kazakh section of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline, continue to deepen cooperation in oil, gas, and uranium, and expand cooperation in new energy,” said a joint statement.

It added that the two sides stand “ready to actively promote the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Kazakhstan's ‘Bright Road’ new economic policy, so as to give a strong impetus to cross-border trade in goods and services and benefit the people of the two countries.”

Xi landed in Samarkand on Wednesday night where he was received by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The Chinese president said the friendship between China and Uzbekistan and our peoples “is still brimming with vigor and vitality.”

“The China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership has steered onto the fast track of development. This has not only benefited our two peoples but also given a strong boost to peace, stability, prosperity, and development of the region,” said Xi.

- ‘Focus on natural gas cooperation’

In his meeting with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on Thursday, Xi said: “China always views China-Turkmenistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, respects Turkmenistan’s independently chosen development path that suits its own national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Turkmenistan’s internal affairs and process of stability and development.”

“China will continue to work with Turkmenistan to firmly support each other, advance bilateral relations, and deliver more benefits to the two peoples,” Xi told Berdimuhamedov.

The Chinese president said the two sides need to “increase the size and scale of natural gas cooperation and inject new impetus into the development and revitalization of the two countries.”

Xi also urged the need “to accelerate cooperation in non-resource fields and to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Turkmenistan’s strategy to revive the Great Silk Road.”

Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan “highly values its strategic partnership with China.”

He said Turkmenistan was ready to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in economy and trade, natural gas, cross-border transportation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

“Turkmenistan firmly supports the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said, backing initiatives put forward by China that are “conducive to maintaining international peace and security and achieving the sustainable development goals of the UN.”

During his meeting with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Xi reiterated China's "firm support" for Tajikistan's "national independence, sovereignty, and security."

"China and Tajikistan need to continue to provide a solid support for each other and bring about more concrete results in bilateral ties," Xi told Rahmon in Samarkand.