Editor's Note: Xu Qinhua is the vice dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy, executive dean of the Eurasian Research Institute, Research Fellow of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The China-Central Asia Summit can play a crucial role in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), supporting relations between China and Central Asian countries, enhancing China's national image in Eurasia, and maintaining peace, security and social stability in the region.

Central Asia neighbors China with a common border thousands of kilometers long. All five Central Asian countries have already established comprehensive strategic partnerships or permanent comprehensive strategic partnerships with China. The China-Central Asia Summit can help to deepen existing relationships and build a closer regional community. China-Central Asia diplomacy is a key link in China's neighborhood diplomacy and a central expression of China's diplomatic philosophy of proximity, sincerity, benefit and tolerance.

Central Asia is the first region to tap into the BRI. Given the complex and volatile situation in the world today, the China-Central Asia Summit will help to build consensus on the construction of the initiative between China and the Central Asian countries, supporting the development of the bilateral relationship by setting up all-dimensional, multitiered and composite connectivity between the BRI and the five Central Asian countries' national strategies such as the Kazakhstan: Bright Road Initiative.

The summit will help drive the overall development of the BRI, and an economically vibrant Eurasian region will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the rest of the world. The summit will also set the tone for the construction of the initiative over the next 10 years and promote the continuous upgrading of the cooperative relationship between China and the Central Asian countries.

With the cooperative framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, members will unite to try to help resolve the Ukraine conflict. The five Central Asian countries participating in the China-Central Asia Summit are all former members of the Soviet Union, and the crisis in Ukraine poses a threat to the security of the entire Eurasian region. China, along with the Central Asian countries, is in favor of peace talks, hoping to resolve the Ukrainian crisis through peaceful negotiations to maintain stability in the Eurasian region. There is a broad consensus between China and the Central Asian countries on this issue. At the China-Central Asia Summit, China will also work with the countries in the region to build consensus and commit to contributing to the resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

For thousands of years, the spirit of the Silk Road – peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit ­– has been passed from generation to generation, promoting the progress of human civilization and contributing greatly to the prosperity and development of the countries along the Silk Road.

All in all, the first China-Central Asia Summit is still following the initial vision and proposed actions for the BRI, but with a stronger base of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.