China rolls out the red carpet for Central Asian leaders ahead of the China Summit

China held a warm welcome ceremony for Central Asian leaders who came to attend the summit, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Xinhua, China.

The summit, chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is the first in-person meeting between the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

It is expected to lay out new blueprints for China-Central Asia cooperation. Xi expounds China's position on how to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future in the new era, and puts forward a series of proposals for the development of long-term cooperation among the six countries. Xi will also announce a series of measures. pragmatism, and will comprehensively chart the course of cooperation between China and Central Asia.

The first Central Asian leader to arrive in Xi'an was the President of Kazakhstan, Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. Tajik President Emomali Rehman, Kyrgyz President Sadir Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also arrived. Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov will arrive later on Thursday. A welcome banquet will be held for the five leaders. The arriving leaders were greeted with a performance of traditional Shaanxi folk dances at the airport.