ISLAMABAD, May 22 (INP): Central Asia is striving to transform to realize the dream of sustainable development. It is putting efforts to achieve the lost glory, which Central Asia enjoyed during the days of the ancient Silk Road, according to an article carried by Gwadar Pro on Monday However, connectivity, lower industrial development, poverty and lack of financial resources are hindering the transformation and realization of dreams of sustainable development. Thus, Central Asia is looking for friends and partners, which can help Central Asia overcome these problems and put the region on the path of development. In this context, the China-Central Asia Summit held on May 18 and 19 was dubbed as a game changing opportunity for Central Asia. The summit has all the elements that can help Central Asia move on the path of prosperity. First, the cooperation to help Central Asia overcome the challenge of connectivity was proposed. There is no second opinion that China through Belt and Road Initiative can help Central Asia solve the problem of connectivity. Two corridors of BRI – CCAWAC and CPEC – are the best options available for this purpose. Besides, China is working to enhance the traffic capacity of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan and China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan highways. China also supported the trans-Caspian international transport corridor, which is considered a new beginning to develop BRI’s linkages with other initiatives. Lastly, China emphasized the importance of expediting the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Thus, it is hoped that Central Asia will transit from landlocked country to land linked country. It will help Central Asia play the role of connecting nod between the East and the West, as it was playing during the times of the ancient Silk Road. Second, China has shown keen interest in helping Central Asia tackle issues of development and poverty. China announced that China will formulate the China-Central Asia special cooperation program for poverty reduction in the region. China also kicked start the implementation of the “China-Central Asia technology and skills improvement scheme”. It is an innovative approach, which will not only help eradicate poverty but also prepare future generations for the fourth industrial revolution. Also China will provide Central Asian countries with a total of 26 billion yuan (about 3.7 billion U.S. dollars) in financing support and grants. Third, China will be working with Central Asia to implement a green development agenda, high-quality development vision and tackle environmental and climate change issues. China will help develop and modernize industrial and agricultural sectors in Central Asia. …
China-Central Asia Summit: Beginning of New Type of Int’l relations
