International community highly comments on Xi's central, south Asia trip

The international community has highly commented on Chinese President Xi Jinping's visits to central and south Asia countries earlier this month, saying the visits were very significant and fruitful.

Xi attended the 14th meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states on Sept. 11-12 in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, before he paid state visits to Tajikistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India from Sept. 12 to 19.

Cha Jae-bok, chief researcher of Northeast Asia History Foundation of South Korea, said that a four-point proposal for the development of the SCO made by Xi will vigorously push the SCO towards a more complete and mature mechanism.

Xi's speech at the SCO summit emphasized the importance of security and highlighted the SCO's firm determination to unite its member countries to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism and jointly build the general environment of security, Cha said.

Xi stressed the common development, which will boost more extensive cooperation at higher levels among the SCO members, and thus to promote regional economic integration, he said.

Xi emphasized promotion of mutual understanding among peoples and expansion of foreign exchange and cooperation, which will contribute to maintaining the powerful vigor and vitality of the SCO, he added.

Madar Regmi, chairman of Nepal's Chinese Studies Center, said that the four-point proposal made by Xi was very pertinent and forward-looking and could serve as a guidance for handling global affairs.

Xi's advocacy of broader and deeper economic and trade cooperation also will lay a solid economic and material foundation for wiping out terrorism, Regmi said.

Gennady Chufrin, an expert with the Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that President Xi's speech deserved a serious listening by the whole world.

Xi's initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Zone well complements the conception of the SCO and the idea of Euroasian economic integration, which will greatly strengthen the economic links among the SCO members and boost the growth of the world economy, Chufrin said.

Valikhan Tuleshov, director of the Institute for Regional Development of the Kazakhstan's International Academy of Business, said that Xi's initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Zone will unite all members of the SCO, and will lead to the launch of cooperation with major international integration organizations including the European Union, which will enable the SCO to undergo greater development, and which will be conducive to promoting its status.

Asangz Abeyagoonasekera, director of Sri Lanka's Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, said that Xi's visit was a historic moment for Sri Lanka.

"There seems to be an air of excitement in India over the visit. There seems to be much bonhomie, rapport and informality between President Xi and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. All signs are that this will be a landmark visit, not to be repeated for years to come," said Ramesh Chopra, a strategist and retired Lt. General of Indian Army.

"Even before the visit started, there was tremendous publicity, media and TV coverage and once it started, all TV Channels are giving round-the-clock visuals and commentaries, a new trend which augurs well for the future relations," he said.

D. Varaprasad, chairperson of the Chinese Studies Center at the School of International Studies, Jawharlal Nehru University, said that Xi's visit to India received extremely warm welcome.

India and China have lots in common, and both countries emphasize inclusive growth and put priority on economic development, he said. China has the "Chinese Dream", while India also has the "Indian Dream". The two countries can realize their own dream through helping each other, he added.

India's legislative expert Vandana Seth said that Xi's speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs is very comprehensive and moving, showing his sincere hope for developing ties between China and India.

Xi's visit opened a new door for China-India ties, which will help erase prejudice, she added.

Meanwhile, Indian newspapers have reported with front page stories President Xi's visit Wednesday to Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Modi, on the first day of the three-day visit by the Chinese president.

The Pioneer, a major English newspaper published in Delhi, said in its headline:" Vibrant Gujarat Welcomes Xi-Modi, Rolls Out Red Carpet to Chinese President".

"Gujarat spared no efforts to honor and vow the visiting Chinese President and Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar were lit up and decorated like a bride," said the newspaper, which is close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata party.

The Hindu said in its front page story on the visit that the three-day visit by President Xi began Tuesday on a positive note in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with President Xi and Prime Minister Modi sharing a "rare bonhomie" and the two countries signing two agreements and one memorandum of understanding.

"The strong note of symbolism, ceremony and camaraderie between the two leaders set the stage for substantive talks to be held in New Delhi Thursday," the newspaper said.

Qian Feng, vice director of the Chinese-language newspaper Asian Daily in Thailand, said that China's growth brings opportunities to other SCO member countries, which also hope to deepen exchange with China, while Xi proposed in his speech promotion of practical cooperation in this regard.

Cheang Vannarith, senior researcher of Cambodia's Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said that Xi's visits made outstanding contribution to enhancing strategic mutual trust and developing common interests between China and the countries that he visited.

He particularly mentioned that good relationship between China and India is an important pillar for regional stability, while mutual trust and friendship between China and India will help the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) build a stronger and more stable region in the interest of all countries in the region.