By Andrew Hayley XIAN, China (Reuters) - Central Asian heads of state converged in China s historic city of Xian on Thursday for one-on-ones with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to seal pledges of enduring friendship, paving the way for a summit expected to result in a regional pact with Beijing. The bilaterals set the stage for a group huddle on Friday, the first in-person gathering of the six leaders, where Xi will deliver an important speech, according to China s foreign ministry. An important political document will also be signed. Across the city of Xian, from where the ancient Silk Road linked imperial China with civilisations to its west over a millennium ago, banners, billboards and even taxi signs were set up to promote the summit. China is intensifying its economic and political engagement with the former Soviet states as Russia channels what remaining resources it has into the war in Ukraine. Some Central Asian states are increasingly stand up to Moscow, with Kazakhstan not recogn
XIAN, China Central Asian heads of state converged in China's historic city of Xian on Thursday for one-on-ones with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to seal p.
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