On May 12, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the second "China+Central Asia" (C+C5) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, and jointly met the press with foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries.

Wang Yi expressed, the second C+C5 Foreign Ministers' Meeting is the first offline meeting after the video meeting last July, and the first multilateral foreign ministers' meeting hosted by China in the wake of the pandemic, fully reflecting the high-level relations between China and the Central Asian countries.

Wang Yi said, Xi'an is at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Over 2,000 years ago, the Silk Road stretching thousands of miles bore witness to the long history of friendly exchanges between China and the Central Asia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Central Asian countries, and next year is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Central Asian countries. At this critical junction, we foreign ministers of the six countries gather in the ancient capital Xi'an to convey a clear message of inheriting traditional friendship and jointly creating a bright future.

Wang Yi expressed, we have achieved eight-point consensus at the meeting today. First, we agree to strengthen strategic mutual trust, respect each other's independent choice of development paths, and firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests. Second, we agree to take the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and the Central Asian countries as an opportunity to review the successful experience, chart the course of cooperation for the next three decades, and strive to build the China-Central Asia community with a shared future. Third, we agree to continue to jointly fight against the pandemic, strengthen medical and health cooperation, and protect the life and health of people in the region. Fourth, we agree to continue to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implement a batch of model projects in economic and trade, energy, transportation, and investment, and build the Eurasian land connectivity bridge, delivering a cooperative development belt featuring win-win results. Fifth, we decide to jointly build the sub-national cooperation mechanism of "China+Central Asia", strengthening the new-type regional cooperation. Sixth, we agree to jointly contribute to regional security and stability, and support and promote the political settlement of the Afghan issue. Seventh, we agree to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, uphold multilateralism, oppose interference in others' internal affairs, and promote a new type of international relations. Eighth, we agree to strengthen the establishment of the mechanism for C+C5 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and ensure the steady progress of bilateral cooperation.

Wang Yi said, three joint statements are released during this meeting. The first is the Joint Statement on the Response to the COVID-19 that focuses on deepening anti-pandemic cooperation, and emphasizes that origin source-tracing is a scientific issue and a global task that should be jointly studied by scientists all over the world. We should jointly oppose "vaccine nationalism" and "vaccine divide", and establish an effective public health system. The second is the Joint Statement on Deepening Sub-national Cooperation that aims to promote the establishment of the sub-national cooperation mechanism, simplify cross-border flow of goods, and share experience on development and revitalization of small and medium-sized cities as well as rural areas. The third is the Joint Statement on the Afghan Issue. It is released at the right time. As a neighbor of Afghanistan, we reaffirm the staunch support for Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction, call on responsible and orderly withdrawal of foreign troops, and stand ready to play a due role for the stability and development of Afghanistan.

Wang Yi said, the meeting decides to build "three centers". First, build a "China-Central Asia Agricultural Cooperation Center" for promoting cooperation in modern agriculture and sharing advanced agricultural technologies. Second, build a "Silk Road Archaeological Cooperation Research Center" for doing archaeological and cultural heritage study, and boosting cultural exchanges and cooperation. Third, build centers for traditional medicine in Central Asian countries for promoting traditional medical cooperation, and helping all countries defeat the pandemic.

Wang Yi expressed, this meeting also decides to implement "three plans". First, implement the "One Country, One Workshop" plan for building one Luban Workshop in each country in Central Asia in three years, and cultivating professionals in different fields. Second, implement the education training plan. China will provide another 450 scholarships to the Central Asian countries in three years. Third, implement the plan of reducing poverty and benefiting farmers. China will provide annual 100-person training class for officials in charge of poverty alleviation in the Central Asian countries in three years, and build agricultural science and technology demonstration parks in the Central Asian countries.

Wang Yi said, we also adopt the Memorandum on the Establishment of the Mechanism for China and Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and we will define cooperation priorities, make joint action plans, and provide effective mechanism guarantee for the cooperation between China and the Central Asia.

Wang Yi emphasized, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and presidents of the five Central Asian countries, and the strong support of the people in all sectors of the six countries, China-Central Asia relations will surely march forward, and embrace a more brilliant future.