This year marks the 15th anniversary of China's establishment of diplomatic relations with five Central Asian countries-Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. After becoming independent upon the breakup of the Soviet Union, they established and developed stable and sustainable ties with China on a brand new basis. Now, with close cooperation in various fields, China and Central Asian countries have become friendly and cooperative partners.

China and Central Asia's interaction began more than 2,000 years ago. They shared a border of about 3,000 km and a mutually prosperous trade route, the Silk Road, but they also experienced separation.

The past 15 years have witnessed sound bilateral ties between China and Central Asian countries. To China, the Central Asian countries are crucial to the prosperity and social stability of its western regions; to Central Asian countries, China means not only a shortcut to the outside world but also the opportunity to attain prosperity and security.

The core of China's Central Asia policy includes mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, friendly and neighborly relations and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. China supports Central Asian countries' endeavor to maintain independence and sovereignty, and respects their choice of a development path. It hopes to promote regional peace and stability together with them through strengthened consultation and cooperation.

Due to their ample resources and geographical location, the five Central Asian countries have been the focus of the major powers, which have woven a complicated web of interests there. All being China's neighbors and developing countries, the Central Asian nations occupy an important position in China's diplomatic policy.

Central Asian leaders always stress that China is a "great country" that has attained "remarkable achievements" and affords valuable experience. They hope to develop good relations with China to stabilize their independence, enhance their positions in the world and become part of the Pacific region, where a dynamic economic atmosphere is fostered. In addition, China can offer the countries stable access to the sea. The focus of the Central Asian countries is on big countries, rich countries and neighboring countries; thus China has become their "priority choice." Central Asian countries mainly emphasize maintaining good relations with their neighbors, expanding economic cooperation, getting powerful international support by using China's position and influence in the world, and guaranteeing peace and security in their own countries and the whole region.

There are several factors that have determined each side's emphasis. First is their geographical ties; second is economic cooperation that offers advantages to both sides; third is cultural ties among the various ethnic groups in both areas; fourth is the political relationship--China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the Central Asian countries are newly rising countries in the region that call for a new world economic order and oppose a unilateral world and power politics; and fifth is security needs. Both face mutual security threats and have the same interests in attacking terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as maintaining regional peace and stability.

As early as 1991, when the five Central Asian countries announced their independence one after another, China acknowledged these newborns and established diplomatic relations with them in January 1992. Border trade has resumed even earlier. Their political ties with China became close within a short time after the formal diplomatic ties were founded. Cooperation in various fields with China developed very rapidly--cross-border railways were opened in 1992. And Central Asian countries are also considering reopening the Silk Road that linked China and Europe.