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Xi’an summit to usher in new chapter of China-Central Asia friendship
By Zhang Xiao
The China-Central Asia Summit will be held in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi province on May 18 and 19, which is expected to bring new historical opportunities to the development of relations between China and Central Asian countries.
In 1992, China established diplomatic relations with Central Asian countries, opening the window of exchange and cooperation.
Over the past 31 years, the two sides have witnessed leapfrog development in their relations and successively formed strategic partnerships, which has not only promoted their own prosperity, but also safeguarded regional peace and stability. They have set an example for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation.
In 2022, trade volume between China and Central Asian countries hit a historic high of $70.2 billion, an over 100-fold increase since diplomatic ties were established
From January to April, this year, China’s trade with five Central Asian countries increased 37.4 percent year-on-year. China’s direct investment stock in the five countries was nearly $15 billion as of the end of 2022.
In January last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a summit via video link to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries.
The summit adopted and released the Joint Statement Between Leaders of China and the Five Central Asian Countries on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties, which stressed that the relations between China and Central Asian countries have entered a new era.
According to the statement, the six countries are determined to jointly build a strategic partnership featuring rich substance, fruitful results and enduring friendship and build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
During the third China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers’ meeting in June 2022, all parties agreed to establish a mechanism for the heads of state to hold summits in the “C+C5” format. Consensus was also reached that the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit would be held by China.
China and Central Asian countries will take the summit as an opportunity to bring their relations to a new level. The six countries will give full play to the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, gradually establish cooperation platforms in key areas, and improve the mechanisms for their cooperation.
Following the principles of mutual respect, good-neighborly friendship, solidarity and win-win cooperation, they will resolutely safeguard their sovereignty, security and development interests, offer each other firm support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, firmly oppose external interference in domestic affairs and build a solid foundation for political mutual trust.
They will uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, follow a coordinated approach to safeguarding traditional and non-traditional security, and work together to combat separatists, religious extremists and terrorists, as well as drug-trafficking and organized cross-border crimes, so as to build a strong fortress for regional peace and stability.
The six countries will uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, pursue high-standard cooperation to improve people’s livelihood and promote sustainable development in Belt and Road construction, and jointly write a splendid chapter of the BRI.
They will strengthen exchanges between parliaments, political parties and non-governmental organizations and exchanges between women, young people and people with disabilities to build stronger momentum for cooperation.
They will work together to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, follow true multilateralism, oppose protectionism, hold dear humanity’s shared values, safeguard international equity and justice, and enrich the connotation of international collaboration.
China and Kazakhstan, connected by mountains and rivers, are good neighbors, good friends and good partners with a shared future. China-Kazakhstan relations have progressed by leaps and bounds and reached the high level of permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, making important contributions to promoting regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
The two countries will strengthen strategic communication and policy coordination, actively join the construction of China-Central Asia mechanisms, and promote the healthy and stable development of cooperation in various fields, to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
Xi’an is one of the cities where the Chinese civilization is rooted. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. The China-Central Asia Summit to be held in the city will surely usher in a more splendid chapter of friendly cooperation between China and Central Asia.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its intention to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the decision of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party said Wike’s decision was personal and did not alter its position to participate in the presidential election with its candidate, Senator Sandy Onor. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, made the clarification on Wednesday.
According to the party, a recent conversation between Wike and Onor should not be interpreted as a political negotiation between the minister and the PDP.
“He told Nigerians that Sandy is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend,” Mohammed said.
He added that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Wike had earlier clarified that his support in 2027 was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests. He also said he never promised that the PDP would abandon its candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC,” Wike said.
The minister also maintained that his proposed Rainbow Coalition was not an arrangement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The issue has generated disagreement with some APC governors, who have expressed concern about a political arrangement that could affect the party’s candidates at other levels.
APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors would not support any alliance or arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates.
Meanwhile, APC presidential campaign council spokesperson Ima Niboro has urged Wike and APC governors to end their public exchanges and concentrate on political mobilisation.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” Niboro said.
He urged political leaders to strengthen their grassroots structures and engage directly with voters rather than continue exchanging statements in the media.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States
2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States
2027: PDP Insists on Presidential Contest Despite Wike’s Support for Tinubu
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