Published: Less than 20 min ago
China is hosting the leaders of neighboring countries for a regional summit at the same time as Western leaders of the G7 are meeting in Japan.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is hosting as the leaders of several Central Asian countries gathered in the historically important city of Xi’an on Thursday. The meeting is considered a “milestone” by Beijing as it is the first of its kind since the loosely assembled group of countries was formed 31 years ago.
The meeting begins at the same time as the heads of state and government of the powerful G7 group meet in Hiroshima, Japan, and is seen by observers as an attempt by Beijing to highlight China’s economic and political weight in the region.
Among the countries participating in the Chinese meeting are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting place is symbolically chosen as Xi’an was the starting point of the classic Silk Road. China’s extensive investment in communication to the west, called the New Silk Road – in English the Belt and Road Initiative – is led through several of the invited countries.
China’s trade with the countries in the region is equivalent to around SEK 700 billion for 2022, and has increased by over 20 percent in the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period the year before.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev praised trade and infrastructure investments in the region in connection with a preparatory meeting with Xi Jinping.
The dignity of the meeting was marked by Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan receiving the guests for an evening reception in a traditionally styled ceremony in Xi’an.