Xi's Kazakhstan trip carries on 'Silk Road Spirit', charts new chapter

LEADING SCO TOWARDS NEW DEVELOPMENT

Over the past 16 years since its establishment, the SCO has developed into a significant platform for enhancing mutual trust, deepening good neighborliness and friendship, expanding pragmatic cooperation and maintaining regional security and stability between the member states.

The SCO summit accepted India and Pakistan as its full members in its first expansion since its founding in 2001, making it the world's most populous regional cooperative organization and the largest by area.

Welcoming the new members, Xi called on the SCO to "carry forward the fine tradition of solidarity and coordination."

"All member states, old and new, should work in close coordination, deepen mutual trust and increase mutual support in their endeavor to build a community of shared future featuring equality, mutual support, solidarity and sharing of weal and woe," Xi said while addressing the annual gathering of the SCO heads of state.

Xi also proposed that the SCO draw up a five-year outline for implementation of the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and formulate a three-year program of cooperation to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism.

OPENING UP NEW CHAPTER FOR BELT AND ROAD BUILDING

Back in 2013 in Kazakhstan, Xi first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, starting the process of Belt and Road cooperation.

The Belt and Road Initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Four years later, when Xi returned to Astana, the initiative has been translated from a proposal into actions, and from a concept into practice.

In their talks, Xi and Nazarbayev agreed to further integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with Kazakhstan's development strategy of "Nurly Zhol," or "Bright Path" in the Kazakh language.

Kazakhstan is a major country located along the Belt and Road routes. Xi's visit facilitates the joint efforts of China and Kazakhstan in building the Belt and Road and in their capacity cooperation.

The Chinese leader urged concerted efforts of both countries to make the new Eurasia land and maritime routes linked by Lianyungang and Horgos pilot projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to promote peace, prosperity, openness, innovation and exchanges of civilizations along these paths.