BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will participate in a leaders’ meeting and pay official visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from July 2-6, the foreign ministry announced on Sunday.
Beijing has intensified diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, with Xi calling for a deepening of economic relations during a summit hosted by China last May that was attended by leaders of several regional states.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in a statement said President Xi Jinping will participate in the 24th meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana and carry out state visits to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
She said Xi’s two official visits during the trip came at the invitations of President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan.
Central Asia is a vital connection in China’s flagship Belt and Road international infrastructure development project.
The last May summit saw China pledge to expand transport connections with the region and move ahead with a Central Asia-China gas pipeline.
