China-Central Asia ties need more energy
- Source: Global Times
- [03:56 December 15 2009]
- Comments
Monday's opening of the 1,833-kilometer-long China- Central Asia natural gas pipeline in the presence of the four state leaders from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is a landmark achievement that signals a new phase of regional cooperation.
But, the cooperation between China and Central Asia needs to transcend the energy track to build greater trust for consolidation of ties.
The world's longest natural gas pipeline runs from the mountainous Central Asia region through China's Xinjiang to finally deliver to end users in 14 provinces and cities, including the metropolises of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Energy constitutes the basis of cooperation between China and Central Asia. The pipeline project was completed in less than two years, demonstrating the deep reliance on energy of both sides for maintaining closer relations.
Along the old Silk Road, that in old times witnessed robust trade exchanges, few commodities, other than oil and natural gas, are transported today.
Central Asia and China have a variety of reasons to work closely. Yet except for shared security concerns and energy projects, cooperation between the two sides on other fronts, such as financial and cultural exchanges, remain minimal.
The two sides being at different stages of economic development is one of the barriers preventing more intensive cooperation. Though official interactions maintain the positive drive, as, for instance, evident in President Nursultan Nazarbayev and President Hu Jintao having met 18 times, public diplomacy is rather inactive.
Despite geographical proximity, people-to-people contacts and understanding between the two sides is limited. Central Asia is not a destination that arouses much enthusiasm in Chinese tourists. On its part, Central Asia has shown reserve in its dealings with the giant neighbor.
China needs to take more initiatives and add momentum to carry forward the current relations.
At meetings with his counterparts in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, President Hu stressed the necessity for deepening cooperation in non-energy sectors, and outlined a long-term strategy to advance the overall relations.
China would like cooperate with Turkmenistan in the areas of transportation, telecommunication, construction material and infrastructure.
With Kazakhstan, which enjoys twice the per capita GDP of China, financial cooperation as well as technological and educational exchanges can be put on the fast track.
The global economic crisis may provide China a good opportunity to break new ground in strengthening cooperation with Central Asian countries.
China and Central Asia ties are moving toward greater progress. This can hasten the emergence of the China-Central Asia free trade zone.
