The fifth is to carry out comprehensive cooperation with the Central Asian countries through the SCO. On June 15, 2001, SCO was set up, which is a new mechanism for regional cooperation and security in Eurasia, and has a special significance to promote the economic development of the Central Asian countries. It has also raised bilateral cooperation between China and Central Asian countries to a whole new level and has become an important platform for regional cooperation between China and Central Asian countries on a multilateral basis in the new century. 

First of all, the principle of mutual trust and equality has been further clarified in politics, emphasizing good-neighborly friendship and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, which can consolidate bilateral cooperation and make the interests of bilateral cooperation more solid. The various treaties and agreements signed within the framework of the SCO extended bilateral political cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. 

Next, for the realization of economic trade, investment facilitation and deeper regional cooperation, deepen bilateral economic cooperation between China and Central Asian countries can play a catalytic role. Meetings of Heads of Government of the SCO repeatedly stressed the need to create conditions to facilitate members of the country’s economic cooperation, the development of transport corridors and reduce tariff barriers and so on. 

Again, mutual trust and cooperation in security, not only make the border between China and Central Asian countries a border of peace and friendship, but also maintain the stability of the entire region, which is a direct contribution to peace in Eurasia. Cooperation of China and Central Asian countries in combating the “Three Evil Forces” and cross-border crime has become an important part of the security cooperation of the SCO. Within the framework of the SCO, China and Central Asian countries signed agreements to expand substantive security cooperation. On the founding meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June 2001, heads of member states signed “Shanghai Convention on Fighting against Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism”. In June 2004, member states signed “Agreement of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States on Cooperation in Combating the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors”. In July 2005, member states signed “Conception of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States on cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism” and other documents. The SCO also set up a Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure in Tashkent. The Attorney Generals’ Meeting, the Supreme Court Presidents’ meeting and the meeting of Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security, which are held within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, are also related to security issues. In order to cooperate against terrorism, China and Central Asian countries also held a number of joint anti-terrorism military exercises. They have gradually institutionalized. Member states are also strengthening cooperation on security issues when holding important international events and multilateral projects. 

Finally, China and Central Asian countries should support each other in international affairs. Both China and Central Asian countries advocate promoting mutual understanding and trust between countries and promoting regional peace and stability. The SCO has created more possibilities for cooperation between China and Central Asian countries on the international stage. On maintaining security and promoting the development of Central Asia, the position of China and Central Asian countries is similar in the broader international arena. There are many common interests. Central Asian leaders emphasized that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is the most effective mechanism to safeguard regional peace and security, Central Asian countries attach importance to strengthening cooperation within the SCO framework with China, in order to maintain long-term stability in the region, making the area a model of cooperation. 

The sixth is to balance the relationship between major powers in Central Asia. On the one hand, China respects the traditional influence and interests of Russia in Central Asia. The Chinese and Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs have established a consultation mechanism on Central Asia, striving to seek common ground while reserving differences and avoiding the divergence of interests from being turned into open and uncontrollable contradictions and conflicts. The SCO has become an important platform for China and Russia to balance their interests and coordinate their positions. At the same time, China has never regarded Central Asia as its “sphere of influence” and fully respects the independent choice of Central Asian countries for diversified diplomacy. China also fully understands the interests of different actors, like the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, India, and Turkey in Central Asia. China does not want confrontation or competition with those countries in Central Asia.

IV. The Future Trends of China’s Strategy toward Central Asia 

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, China and Central Asian countries have formed a strategic partnership of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development in the past 30 years, and carried out in-depth cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, security and humanities. Cooperation has created a good surrounding environment for China, safeguarded China’s energy security, expanded new market space for China, and greatly protected the security of Central Asian countries and promoted their economic development, consolidated security and stability in the center of Eurasia. 

In the future, China’s strategy toward Central Asia will continue to be influenced by power changes of China, and Central Asian countries’ attitude to China and interaction between China and other major powers in this region. The focus of China’s Central Asia strategy for the next decade can be placed in the following areas: 

The first is to further deepen security cooperation with Central Asian countries. Based on changes in the situation in Eurasia, the security cooperation between China and Central Asian countries must be continuously deepened and strengthened, and it cannot be relaxed and weakened. The SCO is the backbone of security in Central Asia. China must not only improve the level of security cooperation with Central Asian countries within the framework of SCO, but also increase the level of bilateral security cooperation with Central Asian countries and broaden the scope of cooperation. In bilateral security cooperation, China has been providing security cooperation assistance to Central Asian countries for