On May 12, 2021, the second Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China” was held in the city of Xi’an of the People’s Republic of China.
In his welcoming speech, the Member of PRC’s State Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi warmly greeted his colleagues and underlined the importance of strengthening the cooperation between the external policy agencies of the states of the given format aimed at the implementation of agreements reached at the highest level and advancement of the multifaceted partnership between the countries.
The Ministers discussed the key vectors of cooperation, and exchanged views on the expansion of trade-economic and investment ties, as well as the increase of contacts on the cultural-humanitarian track. One of the main topics of discussion was the fight with the global pandemic and intensification of collaboration in the area of medicine, healthcare and science.
The parties discussed the key issues of international and global agenda, as well as underlined the significance of deepening the external policy coordination aimed at the maintenance of security, stability and sustainable development.
In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov said, “as the main, strategic priority of our cooperation, Turkmenistan considers the comprehensive support to the strengthening of peace, strategic and regional stability, provision of conditions necessary for secure and stable development of our friendly states and people”. He noted the importance of mutual political trust, which is consonant with the principles of the International Year of Peace and Trust, initiated by Turkmenistan.
The standpoint of Turkmenistan on sustaining energy, transport and ecologic security on the regional and international levels was voiced. The importance of strengthening transport and transit communication along the main transport corridors of regional and continental scope was underlined. It was stated that Turkmenistan intends to facilitate further the transport interconnectivity and provision of trade ties’ resilience, among others through full unfolding of transport and transit potential of the Central Asia.
The Ministers spoke for the formation of the meeting mechanism for upholding active dialogue and practical implementation of joint initiatives in the field of trade, transport-communication systems, medicine and healthcare, scientific and technical innovations, digital economy and others.
Upon the outcomes of the meeting, a number of documents were adopted, that is the Memorandum on the Creation of the Meeting Format of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China”, Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China” on Afghanistan, Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China” on Further Expansion of Interregional Cooperation, and Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China” on Cooperation on Countering the COVID-19.
Then the briefing of the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan and the People’s Republic of China on the results of the second Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs “Central Asia – China” was held.
