—The international community speaks highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Central Asian tour and other global efforts

At the invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid state visits to the four respective countries from September 3 to 13. The international community offered high approval for President Xi's Central Asian trip. Foreign observers and international media commented that Xi's visits to these countries will foster closer ties and further promote the traditional friendship and economic cooperation between China and the four abovementioned countries, upgrading the pragmatic collaboration and overall relations between China and Central Asian countries.

A "golden decade" of China-Central Asia relations

Chheang Vannarith, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, described China as a bridge connecting East Asia and Central Asia. President Xi's visits are conducive to strengthening the interconnection between East Asia and Central Asia. He said that over the past 10 years, Central Asia has made remarkable progress in development. With the support of Chinese commodities and services, the Central Asian market is expanding continuously.

Adrien Fauve, a research fellow on Central Asian studies with Paris Institute of Political Studies, said President Xi's Central Asian trip is of great importance. He said that China and Central Asian countries are neighbors that share common strategic interests. The relationship between China and its Central Asian neighbors has become increasingly close in recent years and its significance is much greater than that of 10 to 20 years ago.

Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao reported that the visit has tightened the traditional friendship between China and Central Asian countries. It has helped to promote political mutual trust and enhance the mutual economic cooperation between the two sides, paving the way for a "golden decade" of friendly relations between China and Central Asia. President Xi's efforts will surely consolidate the strategic cooperation relationship between China and Central Asian countries, continuing to support each other firmly on core interests and promote pragmatic cooperation.

Raffaello Pantucci, an expert on Central Asian studies at the UK-based Royal College of Defense Studies, said President Xi's Central Asia trip is very helpful for consolidating China's trade relations with those countries. China has signed economic and trade cooperation agreements with all of the four Central Asian countries during Xi's visits.

Denis Simon, a researcher on international studies with Arizona State University, said a sound China-Central Asia relationship is of great geopolitical significance for China to gain international support as well as strategic partnerships.

Building the Silk Road economic belt

Marat Sisenovich Abulkhatin, Editor in Chief of Itar-Tass news agency, said the proposal of building a Silk Road economic belt by President Xi was the biggest highlight of his Central Asian trip. The concept is an integrating point of common interests of all parties. It has created a new model for regional cooperation that will benefit three billion people, inspiring greatly the confidence of relevant countries in promoting regional economic cooperation. Xi's visit to Central Asian countries has greatly upgraded comprehensively the pragmatic cooperation and overall relations of China and Central Asian countries.

A report of Yonhap News Agency stated that if President Xi's concept of a Silk Road economic belt comes true, it would become a new growth point of the world economy. The report said President Xi stressed that China respects the right of people of all countries to independently choose development paths and models and will never interfere in the internal affairs of Central Asian countries, helping to dispel worries of those countries and strengthen their friendship with China.

Yakov Berger, chief researcher of the Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, claimed that the proposal of a Silk Road economic belt by President Xi during his trip to Central Asia is good news for both China itself and Central Asian countries.

Tulieshov, a Kazakh researcher on international studies, said the Silk Road economic belt proposed by President Xi is warmly welcomed by Central Asian countries. The proposal is pragmatic and timely. It is very conducive to promoting the free trade and transport facilitation of the region. It will become a new mutual beneficiary development opportunity for Central Asian countries.

Kadyrov, a reporter from a Kyrgyzstan news agency, said as a regional power, many of China's initiatives have played a key role in promoting regional development. During his visit to the four Central Asian countries, President Xi's proposal of creating a Silk Road economic belt has been unanimously endorsed by all countries, which is also instructive for SCO to achieve economic and trade cooperation.

Bill Jones, chief correspondent of Executive Intelligence Review in Washington, said President Xi's visit to Central Asia has conveyed a very important strategic signal, that is, China has regarded Central Asia and Silk Road economic belt as one of its diplomatic priorities. From the economic perspective, the Silk Road economic belt will promote not only the infrastructure construction of Central Asian countries but also the development of local economy, which is of great importance to these countries under the context of global economic recession.

An increasingly important partner

Yakov Berger said President Xi's visit is of equal importance to both China and the Central Asian countries. The connection between China and Central Asian countries in fields of economy and trade, transit transport, security and energy will be increasingly strengthened.

Nadine Godehardt, a research fellow in the Asia division of Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said President Xi's 10-day visit to the four Central Asian countries highlighted the significance of Central Asia to China. There is not only energy cooperation but also economic cooperation between China and these countries. The position of the region in China's overall foreign policy is continually on the rise. And for Central Asian countries, China is also becoming an increasingly important cooperation partner. While China provides economic assistance to these countries to aid their sustainable economic growth, the stability in Central Asia will also benefit China's development in return.

China's long-term investment on non-governmental exchanges will also help China to establish a positive image in this region. President Xi's visit to Central Asia has sent an encouraging signal to these countries, letting them know that China is not merely interested in their resources, but also tries to learn more about their national development, said Nadine Godehardt.

James Reardon-Anderson, Senior Associate Dean of the Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, said China has significant security and energy interests in Central Asia. Through trade contacts with Central Asian countries, China can reduce its oil and gas dependence on the Middle East. At the same time, it could promote local economic development.

Georgiy Voloshin, an analyst at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program of John Hopkins University, said China is increasingly seen as the prime partner country by Central Asian countries in the commercial domain. The positive actions of China in Central Asia show not only China's concern for regional stability but also its willingness to play a more active role in the region.