BEIJING (Reuters) – China says it is ready to step up “law and order and security” cooperation with Kazakhstan and help it oppose interference from “outside forces,” said Chinese Foreign Minister said on Monday after violent protests rocked the neighboring country last week.
“The recent unrest in Kazakhstan shows that the situation in Central Asia still faces serious challenges, and it proves once again that some outside forces do not want peace and quiet in our region,” Wang said. Yi during an appeal to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi, according to the Chinese ministry.
Public buildings in several Kazakh towns were attacked or set on fire last week during violent protests against rising fuel prices. Kazakh President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev on Monday denounced an attempted coup.
China fears instability in Kazakhstan, which has not seen similar unrest since gaining independence in 1991, threatens energy imports and development projects as part of its massive investment program, experts say. “Belt and Road” investments.
Beijing is also said to be concerned about security in the western province of Xinjiang, which shares a 1,770 kilometer-long border with Kazakhstan.
(Report Gabriel Crossley and Yew Lun Tian; French version Dagmarah Mackos, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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