Kazakhstanis hail China-Central Asia Summit as new Silk Road milestone

Local residents in Kazakhstan say they welcome the outcomes of the just-concluded second China-Central Asia Summit as a transformative opportunity for regional development, highlighting potential cooperation in green energy, logistics and industrial modernization.

The summit held in Astana on Tuesday produced 12 key agreements spanning Belt and Road cooperation, trade facilitation, green mining and customs modernization.

In an interview with China Global Television Network, local engineer Zhalyn described the event as "a new phase for the Silk Road."

"This is a very important event for Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asia region. I believe it sends a signal of global significance, as it shows that we and the entire Central Asia region are very important to China. It marks a new phase for the Silk Road," he said.

"I believe this kind of cooperation among Central Asian countries can lay a solid foundation for the development of industries such as metallurgy, chemical engineering and logistics, while driving overall progress across multiple fields. I believe this summit will lay a strong foundation for all of this and I sincerely expect fruitful outcomes of our cooperation," said fellow engineer Erzat, expressing confidence in tangible outcomes.

Eying future opportunities for China-Kazakhstan cooperation, Zhalyn noted, "I believe there are several fields for cooperation, for example, the field of climate technology. There are also the fields in which we can achieve national green development through the construction of new wind farms, as well as the construction of solar power plants. Second, there is cooperation in transportation and logistics. For instance, opening new land routes through Kazakhstan to Europe can enable Kazakhstan and China to jointly develop logistics hubs, establish fast freight channels, and implement digital customs systems, which would significantly improve trade efficiency."

"I hope our two countries can cooperate in the industrial and information technology fields, thereby advancing technological innovation, expanding production and promoting trade development. Currently, the two countries have implemented a mutual visa exemption policy, which is beneficial for tourism development, both for Kazakhstan and China. This has also had a positive impact on bilateral trade relations. Bilateral trade volume continues to grow," said Erzat.

The summit's deliverables align with Kazakhstan's national development priorities and the broader regional modernization agenda under China-Central Asia mechanisms, with implementation expected to commence in key sectors this year.

Kazakhstanis hail China-Central Asia Summit as new Silk Road milestone

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation