Xi Jinping pledges US$500 million in aid for Central Asian nations
- Chinese president tells leaders the funds will be provided over the next three years for ‘projects involving people’s livelihoods’
- He also hit out at other countries ‘using human rights as an excuse to intervene in domestic politics’ during virtual meeting
Xi announced the aid on Tuesday during a virtual meeting with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
He said the funds would be provided “in the next three years, to be used on projects involving people’s livelihoods”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The Chinese president called for more strategic communication to build trust and unity in the region and to pursue “mutual prosperity” and development.
He also hit out at interference by other nations, saying Beijing “resolutely opposes using human rights as an excuse to intervene in domestic politics” and that the six countries had together helped to ensure peace and stability in the region.
The meeting marked 30 years of diplomatic ties between China and the five nations since they gained independence from the Soviet Union.