Central Asian police chiefs urged to jointly combat terrorism threats

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

China’s Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong called for closer security cooperation with Central Asian countries to combat terrorism, separatism, extremism, and protect Belt and Road investments during a regional meeting in Beijing. The gathering resulted in commitments to enhance joint law enforcement efforts, inaugurate a new training base, and sign bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening regional stability and economic collaboration.

China’s top law enforcement official called for enhanced cooperation with Central Asian security counterparts to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism, while protecting investments linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. The appeal came during an informal meeting of the China-Central Asia Public Security and Interior Ministers’ mechanism held Monday in Beijing.

Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong convened officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, urging a unified approach to addressing the so-called “three evil forces,” a term employed within Chinese security and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) frameworks that refers to terrorism, separatism, and extremism. These challenges are viewed by Beijing as interconnected threats to national sovereignty and regional stability, particularly relating to concerns over unrest in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The meeting followed a recent SCO summit where Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized security as a key objective and called on member states to cultivate a shared environment of safety. Central Asian countries are strategically significant for China’s energy supply and transport corridors, making the stability of the region a high priority for Beijing’s economic and security interests.

Wang highlighted the need for the mechanism to become a model for regional security governance and proposed expanding practical cooperation. He outlined areas for deeper collaboration including combating transnational crime, managing immigration, protecting overseas assets, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, and safeguarding Belt and Road infrastructure.

Representatives from the five Central Asian states expressed support for these goals and pledged to implement the mechanism’s outcomes to promote regional stability and economic progress. A highlight of the gathering was a video unveiling ceremony for the newly established China-Central Asia Law Enforcement Training Base, designed to improve joint operational effectiveness and technical skills.

During the event, Wang presented the “Golden Great Wall Commemorative Medal,” an award recognizing contributions to bilateral security relations, to Kazakhstan’s Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov and Uzbekistan’s Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulatov.

On the sidelines, Wang held bilateral discussions with Kyrgyz Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov and Kazakh Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov. Wang emphasized the importance of political security, orderly border management, and joint counterterrorism efforts in talks with Niyazbekov, who expressed support for a Chinese proposal to form an international alliance against telecommunications fraud. In discussions with Sadenov, Wang advocated for stronger legal frameworks and communication channels, culminating in the signing of new bilateral cooperation agreements between China and Kazakhstan.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.