International Online Report (Reporter Wang Luping): May 18-19, China — The Central Asia Summit was held in Xi ‘an, and it continued to attract global attention. International online reporters interviewed Fatima Kukeyeva, a professor of international relations at Kazakh National University, on topics related to cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. Kukeyeva pointed out that Kazakhstan is the first place to advocate the Belt and Road Initiative, which has made positive contributions to promoting the diversified development of Kazakhstan, and there is great potential for cooperation between Kazakhstan and China.
Fatima Kukeyeva, Professor of International Relations, Kazakh State University
Kukeyeva said that the Belt and Road Initiative provides an open and inclusive platform for international cooperation and creates favorable conditions for Kazakhstan to integrate into the international transportation chain and industrial supply chain. Since 2013, Kazakhstan has gradually become an important transportation hub in Central Asia. At the same time, the construction and development of the logistics field has also brought convenience to the expansion of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the energy field. Various investments and economic and trade cooperation along with the "Belt and Road Initiative" have benefited Kazakhstan’s agriculture, industry, environment, culture and education.
As a university professor, Kukeyeva is particularly concerned about the achievements and potential of the Belt and Road Initiative in the field of education. She introduced that Kazakh National University has cooperated with more than 30 universities in China to jointly implement scientific research projects and organize expert training. She also specifically mentioned that "experience shows that the educational model adopted by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization University is feasible and effective."
Kukeyeva praised China for its great contribution to the development of green economy in Kazakhstan. She said that on the one hand, the optimization and adjustment of energy structure is the key to promote Kazakhstan’s economic diversification, on the other hand, the green economy has expanded the space for bilateral energy cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. In 2013, Kazakhstan proposed to transform into a green economy, and planned to increase the proportion of alternative energy and renewable energy in the country’s total power generation to 50% by 2050. In 2017, China released the "Cooperation Plan for Ecological Environment Protection of the Belt and Road", emphasizing the need to build the Belt and Road into a green, prosperous and friendly road, and defining the key tasks of the green Belt and Road construction. Kukeyeva believes that pragmatic cooperation in the field of green energy will play an increasingly important role in Kazakhstan-China friendly exchanges in the future.
Kukeyeva is willing to join hands with Central Asia to build a closer China for China — The concept of a community of destiny in Central Asia is highly appreciated. She pointed out that this shows that China fully cares for and supports the development of its neighbors while concentrating on its own development and construction. "The concept of promoting the building of a community of human destiny put forward by the Supreme Leader focuses on the common interests and common well-being of all mankind, is committed to building a free and inclusive prosperous world, and contributes wisdom and solutions to promoting the construction of new international relations."
Kukeyeva said that China and the five Central Asian countries are geographically linked by mountains and rivers, sharing weal and woe in security and complementing each other in economy, which has created broad prospects for cooperation. Today’s international situation is complicated and changeable, and she is very much looking forward to China — The Central Asia Summit will lead all parties to think together about the measures to deal with global risks and challenges. She believes that the summit will provide a more perfect dialogue platform for cooperation and exchanges between China and Central Asian countries, and the results of the summit will further enhance the non-governmental friendship and recognition between China and Central Asian countries, and achieve "common aspiration".