Xi, Central Asian leaders discuss economic cooperation prospects

BEIJING. Sept 15 (Interfax) - Economic cooperation in a variety of areas was among the topics of bilateral meetings held by Chinese President Xi Jinping with his Central Asian counterparts on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand.

Thus, Xi's meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on more cooperation in trade, investment, digital economy and transport, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday.

"China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to improve the trans-Eurasia transportation corridor and make an early start in constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway," the statement said.

Xi's meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon focused on increasing Tajik agricultural exports, the two countries' work on infrastructure, water resources management, transport and digital economy.

At his meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Xi noted the need to combine the two countries' development strategies and implement cooperation plans in economy and trade.

"China supports more eligible Chinese companies in investing in Kyrgyzstan and will facilitate the exchange of personnel and the customs clearance of goods between the two countries," the statement said.

At his meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Xi "emphasized the need for the two sides to increase the size and scale of natural gas cooperation" and at the same time work in non-mining sectors and jointly develop the One Belt One Road and the Silk Road Revival initiatives.