Xi calls for strengthening friendship with Central Asia

President Xi Jinping has encouraged young people from Central Asian countries who are studying in China to be devoted to promoting China-Central Asia friendship and to make greater contributions to bolstering relations between China and their home countries.

In a letter of reply to students from Central Asian countries at China University of Petroleum-Beijing that was published on Monday, Xi said that China and Central Asian countries, which are linked by mountains and waters, enjoy a profound friendship and a shared future.

Xi said that since 2013, when he initiated jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt, the China-Central Asia relations have constantly improved, with accelerated cooperation in all fields that benefit people of both sides.

The friendship between China and Central Asian countries needs to be carried forward by ambitious and promising young people from generation to generation, he said, adding that the students are not only witnesses to and beneficiaries of Sino-Central Asian ties, but they also help boost the relations.

Xi expressed his hope that the students will be devoted to the cause of China-Central Asia friendship, carry forward the "Silk Road spirit" and tell the stories of China and Central Asian countries well.

He also called on the students to work as the "envoys of friendship" and "bridges of cooperation", and contribute to building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Recently, the students wrote a letter to Xi and expressed their determination to study hard and strengthen cooperation to make contributions to building the China-Central Asia community with a shared future.