On June 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping departed Beijing for Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan to make a state visit and to attend the 16th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. This is China's major diplomatic activity in Eurasian region, also a historic visit to promote cooperation between China - Central and Eastern European countries, and to raise the level of relations between China and Central Asian countries, as well as promoting SCO development along an efficient, pragmatic and healthy direction.

Xi's trip to Europe and Asia is a tour to accelerate the "Belt & Road Initiative". Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are all important partners of co-constructing the Silk Road Economic Belt. Xi will jointly discuss the development of bilateral ties and highlight cooperation on the Silk Road Economic Belt separately with leaders of the three states. This will also be a trip of setting an example for regional and international cooperation. During the Tashkent Summit, Xi will work with heads of state to discuss new initiatives to deal with the challenges and promote cooperation. The summit will be an occasion to integrate the "Silk Road Spirit" and "Shanghai Spirit", and to bridge the friendship across Eurasia. Xi's visit will inject new impetus to construction of the Silk Road, and open up new prospects for regional and international cooperation.

By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting

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