Top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi said China and Central Asian countries reaffirmed to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yang said the leaders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan all voiced to push forward cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and further increase economic connectivity and bring benefits to people in each country.

Yang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the comments on Wednesday as he wrapped up his visit to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Yang also expressed gratitude for their support to help China contain COVID-19 and called for united efforts to fight against the epidemic. He said there's no border for the virus and China will safeguard global public health with the idea of building a community of shared future for mankind.

During his last leg of the visit, Yang met Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday.

The two countries should push forward high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to yield more results, prioritize development of production capacity cooperation, trade, agriculture and infrastructure, and foster new growth points such as finance, high-tech and digital economy, Yang said.

Yang also thanks Kazakhstan for providing support and assistance in China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. He said China is ready to strengthen communication with the World Health Organization, enhance cooperation in epidemic prevention and control with all countries, and jointly address the global public health risks.

For his part, Tokayev said he firmly believes that China will surely win a victory over the epidemic. Kazakhstan strives to develop long-term friendship and cooperation with China, unswervingly promote the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership, and closely synergize the Bright Path new economic policy and the Belt and Road Initiative to deliver more tangible results and further benefit the two countries and the two peoples.

(Cover: Aerial photo taken on August 9, 2018 shows the construction site of the Astana light rail transit (LRT) project in Astana, Kazakhstan. /Xinhua)