A meeting of deputy foreign ministers of Central Asia’s nations and China took place on April 13 via video link.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, Tajikistan was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Muzaffar Huseinzod at the meeting.
The parties reportedly exchanged views on the preparations for the second China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting and discussed the draft documents proposed for consideration.
Meanwhile, a source within the Tajik MFA says the second China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting is expected to take place in China’s Shaanxi in the first half of May.
Recall, the first China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers meeting, presided over by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was held via video link on July 16, 2020.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov attended the meeting.
Chinese media reports say that speaking at the meeting, Wang said the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing strategic partnerships with Central Asian countries. Cooperation between China and Central Asia is based on the common needs of both sides.
He reportedly proposed to jointly defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, to jointly promote economic recovery, to safeguard regional security, and to strengthen multilateral cooperation.
Noting Central Asian countries and China are friendly neighbors with high political mutual trust and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, the five ministers said China's decisive and effective response to the COVID-19 has achieved remarkable results, setting an example for the international community, adding that all parties support WHO to play an important role and firmly oppose the politicization of the pandemic, according to Xinhua.
The ministers reportedly supported the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of central Asian countries and stressed their readiness to further strengthen security cooperation.
The meeting adopted and issued the Joint Statement of
