The China (Kashgar) - Central and South Asia Forum on the Rule of Law was held in Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, from Oct 30 to 31. 

Themed on legal guarantees for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the forum released an initiative to strengthen judicial cooperation related to the Belt and Road. 

Wang Chen, head of the China Law Society, said in his address that the rule of law is an "indispensable" foundation and guarantee for Belt and Road cooperation, and he hoped legal professionals from all participating countries would continue to have in-depth exchanges and discussions, deepen cooperation on the rule of law, and strengthen China's ties with Central and South Asian countries to achieve more fruitful results. 

Wang called for improved connectivity in policies, rules and standards, to promote global connectivity. 

Practical cooperation in law enforcement, justice and legal services should be promoted, and more academic exchanges and cooperation on the rule of law should be carried out through platforms such as the China Forum on International Legal Cooperation, Wang noted. 

He also urged all parties to expand the fields and channels of exchange by carrying out bilateral and multilateral cooperative research, and holding academic forums, seminars, and training courses. 

A group of cooperation agreements were signed at the event, which was attended by representatives from China and nine other countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India. 

Guests attending the forum included Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, and Sanjay Rajaratnam, attorney general of Sri Lanka.