Xi blasts tariff wars, protectionism at summit with Central Asia leaders

China's President Xi Jinping on June 17 slammed tariff wars and protectionism during a speech at the China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, state media reported.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan — China's President Xi Jinping on June 17 slammed tariff wars and protectionism during a speech at the China-Central Asia Summit in Kazakhstan, state media reported.

"Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism are bound to harm others and oneself," he said, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

He called for strengthening cooperation between his country and Central Asian nations.

"We should... strengthen cooperation with a more enterprising attitude and more practical measures, promote high-quality development of the 'Belt and Road', and forge ahead towards the goal of a community with a shared future," said Mr Xi.

The Chinese President and five Central Asian leaders signed a treaty declaring their nations' "eternal" friendship during the summit.

At the meeting, the heads of state signed a "Treaty on Eternal Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation", Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's press office said in a statement.

The summit in Astana brought together Mr Xi — who arrived in the Kazakh capital on June 16 — and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Under Russia's orbit until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the five countries of Central Asia have courted interest from major powers including China and the US since becoming independent.

The region is rich in natural resources and strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.