The revival of the historical Silk Road significantly strengthens the ties between China and Central Asia, as observed by experts and operators who see cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strengthening trade relations.
Xi'an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, is a thriving metropolis in Western China rich in history and culture. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the city, known as Chang'an, attracted the attention of foreign merchants, ambassadors and students from various countries.
More than a thousand years later, China proposed the BRI, following the long-standing principles of broad consultation, joint contribution and common benefit.
Xi'an, now the capital of the northwestern province of Shaanxi, hosted the China-Central Asia Summit in May. Leaders of the six countries jointly signed the Xi'an Declaration, which outlines a blueprint for the future development of China-Central Asia relations. It marks a new step towards increasing trade and connectivity.
Since then, Xi'an International Port Station, one of China's largest rail container shipyards, has witnessed a significant increase in trade and logistics exchanges between China and Central Asian countries.
"After the China-Central Asia Summit, there has been a significant increase in the frequency of trade and logistics exchanges between China and Central Asia, and the demand for goods is gradually increasing," said Yuan Xiaojun, director general of Xi'an. said.
As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese engineers built the Qamchiq Tunnel in Uzbekistan between 2013 and 2016. This tunnel significantly reduced travel time between Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent and the eastern city of Andijan to just six hours.
The opening of the Qamchiq Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Central Asia, has changed the state of transport in Uzbekistan, where diversions from other countries were once necessary. It also improved the lives of local people.
China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan plan to build a cross-border railway under the BRI, and Andijan will have a railway terminal in Uzbekistan. It is hoped that the developing industrial city will become an international transport hub.