SHANGHAI -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday pledged 26 billion yuan ($3.7 billion) in fresh loans and grants to five Central Asian neighbors as Beijing looks to fill a void left by Russia in the resource-rich region.
International relations
China's Xi pledges billions in loans to Central Asian nations
Beijing aiming to fill void left by Russia in former Soviet republics
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and leaders from five Central Asian nations at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian on May 19. © Reuters
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