Central Asia: China touts ‘universal security’ at forum to counter terrorism, crime

Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong urges greater security cooperation for belt and road projects in first China-Central Asia ministerial conference

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The public security forum urged greater regional security cooperation to help protect China’s belt and road projects. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:00pm, 12 Sep 2024Updated: 1:13pm, 12 Sep 2024

China has held its first ever public security ministers’ meeting with Central Asian countries as Beijing looks to protect belt and road interests in the region.

China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for the inaugural Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum on Tuesday in Lianyungang, in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

The forum on public security and internal affairs was intended to “establish a sense of a security community and deepen strategic mutual trust and cooperation”, Wang said.

“China is willing to enhance the capability for counterterrorism and transnational crime fighting, and build an efficient and pragmatic cooperation platform with Central Asian countries to achieve the vision of universal security,” Wang said.

The meeting came a year after the launch of the China Central Asia Summit, which expanded Beijing’s cooperation with its neighbours beyond trade and investment into security and stability.

“All parties should … ensure the security of major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance the capability for counterterrorism and transnational crime fighting, and build an efficient and pragmatic cooperation platform,” Wang added.