Ambassadors of Russia and five Central Asian countries visit CPAFFC

Cai Yunzhe

O n July 13， at the invitation of CPAFFC President Lin Songtian， Russian Ambassador Andrey Denisov， Uzbek Ambassador Bakhtiyor Saidov， Kyrgyz Ambassador Kanaiym Baktygulova， Turkmen Ambassador Parakhat H. Durdyev， Kazakh Ambassador Gabit Koishibayev and Tajik Ambassador Saidzoda Zohir Ozod visited the CPAFFCs headquarters in Beijing.

Lin spoke with his guests on topics including Chinas relations with Eurasian countries and the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Lin noted that this year marks the centennial of the Communist Party of China. Over the past 100 years， the Party has stayed true to its original aspirations and founding mission and persistently worked for the welfare of the people， the rejuvenation of the nation and a better future for mankind. On July 1， CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping spoke at a ceremony marking the centennial. He declared that China has realized its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and is now marching with confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

“We are proud of the historical achievements attained by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Party and confident that we will achieve the second centenary goal，” Lin said.

China， Russia and Central Asian countries are good brothers， partners and friends. They always understand and support each other on major issues concerning the core interests of each nation and firmly safeguard the common good. Lin thanked the leaders of those countries and political parties that have sent letters or telegrams to General Secretary Xi expressing their wishes for friendship and offering congratulations on the centennial of the Party.

Lin said， China， Russia and Central Asian countries are natural and strategic partners， with intertwined interests and a shared future. Under the political and strategic guidance of state leaders， presidential diplomacy and high-level communications have been carried out， mutual visits by leaders have been made， strategic partnerships have been established and highstandards of political trust and strategic coordination have been realized.

Lin noted that 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. In a recent videoconference between President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin， a joint declaration was made to renew the treaty， making the China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more relevant in the new era and providing top-level planning and strategic guidance in the development of bilateral ties.

The SCO has expanded in scale， enriched cooperation within the organization and become a major international organization promoting political trust， mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation， mutual assistance in security， mutual learning between civilizations and international coordination. It has set a good example in building a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect， equality， justice and win-win cooperation.

The CPAFFC successfully held the SCO Forum on People-to-People Friendship and a reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the SCO. Both events were well-received by all parties. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Central Asian countries.

Lin noted that President Xi initiated the Belt and Road Initiative in Kazakhstan in 2013. Eight years have passed， and the initiative has received an active response and participation from 140 countries and 32 international organizations. It has become the largest and most popular international public project and cooperation mechanism. The China-Europe express railway is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative， as it boosts connectivity. It serves as the “iron camel caravan”across the Eurasian continent， the supply line and the life line providing international assistance to fighting the novel coronavirus as well as a road of friendship， cooperation， peace and development connecting China， Russia and Central Asian countries.

The railway helps Central Asian countries to become logistics hubs linking China with Europe and boosting their own economic growth.

“We need to be guided by the principles of extensive consultation， joint contributions and shared benefits，” Lin said. “In doing so， we hope to achieve policy， infrastructure， trade， financial and people-to-people connectivity.”

China will work with the international community to promote highquality development through the BRI， share its development fruits with more countries and achieve common development， he said.

Lin said that its the original aspiration and founding mission of the CPAFFC to promote people-to-people amity and connectivity. The association will attach greater importance to Rus- sia and Central Asia； give full play to the role of people-to-people diplomacy， city-to-city diplomacy and public diplomacy； and build more platforms， provide more opportunities and create a better environment for friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation， not only between sub-national governments but also between businesses.

Ambassadors of the six countries thanked Lin for his introduction of the history of the associations historical buildings and its cultural values. They offered congratulations on the centennial of the CPC， commended the splendid achievements the people of China have made under the leadership of the CPC， spoke highly of the bilateral ties between China and their respective countries and praised what the SCO and the BRI have achieved by far. They also expressed their hope to deepen neighborly friendship with China， and their determination and confidence in strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation through the BRI.

They saw the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia， and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and central Asian countries， as a great opportunity to work closer with the CPAFFC， promote peopleto-people friendship and raise both bilateral and multilateral cooperation to new levels.