XI'AN -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that the world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious, and well-connected.

Xi made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the China-Central Asia Summit held in the city of Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Noting that the world needs a stable Central Asia, Xi said the sovereignty, security, independence and territorial integrity of Central Asian countries must be safeguarded, the development paths independently chosen by Central Asian people must be respected, and the efforts made by the region to pursue peace, amity and tranquility must be supported.