Neighbors have always worked together since ancient times.
As the Silk Road has been opened up since the ancient Silk Road was opened up after the imperial envoy Zhang Qian's expedition to the Western Regions, the easternmost portion of today's Central Asia, cooperation between Xi'an and Central Asian nations has been consistent and expanding in terms of trade, agriculture, energy, and many other fields.
In the past few weeks, such bonds were stronger when a direct flight between Xi'an and Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe was opened. The ancient capital of China has become the first Chinese city linked by air with all five Central Asian countries, with a total of 11 airlines operating flights every week.
The number of airlines will continue to grow in the future to meet the needs for trade and investment activities, said Ye Niuping, acting mayor of Xi'an.
Founded in 3100 years ago, the capital of Shaanxi province, Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province and served as the Chinese capital for 13 dynasties. In its heyday in the Tang Dynasty 618 - 907, the city attracted a significant influx of foreign merchants, envoys and students from various countries.
During the Tang Dynasty, many scholars and poets visited the then Chang'an, seeking literary discussions, camaraderie, and poetry indulgence.
Ye, also vice-governor of Shaanxi province, said Shaanxi has given full play to its geopolitical strengths and serves as a business and logistics hub facing Central Asian countries, particularly since President Xi Jinping put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.
According to Ye, trade volume between Shaanxi and Central Asian countries reached 2.08 billion yuan $297 million at the end of last year, or 15 percent of Shaanxi's outbound foreign investment.
We have benefitted from the dividends of common development with Central Asian countries under the framework of the BRI and we will continue to enhance investment and trade exchanges with Central Asian countries to make greater contributions to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road, he said.
Xi'an, with its 159 museums, is home to a number of world-renowned historical sites, such as the Bell Tower and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, and attracts more than 30 million visitors annually.
The cooperation with Central Asian nations is a key feature of cooperation, with more than 1,000 young people from these countries currently studying in Shaanxi.
With scholarships provided from local governments, the students are majoring in business management, engineering construction, mechanical technology, agricultural technology and Chinese language.
Thanks to the logistics enabled by China-Europe Chang'an freight trains, some Central Asian young people have started businesses to engage in cross-border trade between Xi'an and their home countries, he said.
In November 2013 the first China-Europe Chang'an freight train left from Xi'an to Almaty in Kazakhstan. Since then, the number of trains at Chang'an railway station has been steadily increasing, reaching 4,639 last year.
The cooperation between Xi'an and Central Asian countries epitomizes the greater regional cooperation between China and Central Asia, said Yu Jun, the deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of European-Central Asian Affairs.