Xi Jinping to Meet Central Asian Leaders as G7 Summit Takes Place

Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a state visit to Kazakhstan from June 16 to 18 (local time) and will attend the China-Central Asia Summit.

Xi Jinping, President of China. Photo by Xinhua News Agency

According to major foreign media outlets, including Bloomberg News, President Xi arrived in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on June 16 and will participate in the China-Central Asia Summit on June 17. The summit will be attended by five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Earlier, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "This is the first time the China-Central Asia Summit is being held in Central Asia," and added, "It will inject more positive energy into building a closer community of shared destiny between China and Central Asia."

This visit by President Xi is seen as an effort to expand China's influence in the strategically important region of Central Asia, while also serving as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven (G7) Summit being held in Canada during the same period. Central Asia is rich in natural resources and is considered a key region in China's Belt and Road Initiative.

This is President Xi's third overseas trip this year, following his tour of three Southeast Asian countries?Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia?in April, and his visit to Russia last month.