French media have openly sown discord! During the China-Central Asia Summit, French media claimed that China was celebrating eternal friendship with the five Central Asian countries in Russia's "backyard"! On June 18th, according to AFP reports, French media stated that from the mid-19th century to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Central Asia had always been heavily influenced by Russia. However, as China's economy has risen, French media said that Russia is watching as China gradually penetrates this former "sphere of influence," which it can no longer effectively control. Apart from signing this permanent treaty of good neighborliness and cooperation with the five countries, China announced loans worth approximately $209 million to Central Asian countries, which play a crucial role in China's large-scale "New Silk Road" infrastructure projects. The relationship between Beijing and the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia has now become even closer. Clearly, this report by French media is intentionally sowing discord between China and Russia. Without a doubt, French media are viewing China's cooperation with Central Asian countries through the very outdated lens of "spheres of influence." We naturally do not recognize such a concept of spheres of influence, and it is likely that Central Asian countries also do not see themselves as being anyone's sphere of influence. China holds regular "5+1" summits with the five Central Asian countries. In fact, Russia, the United States, Europe, and Turkey also hold regular "5+1" summits with the five Central Asian countries. Why can't China strengthen its cooperation with Central Asian countries? In fact, from Russia's perspective, amid the relative decline of its influence, compared to seeing the upgrading of relations between the United States, Europe, Turkey, and Central Asian countries, Russia would be happier to see China strengthen its ties with the five Central Asian countries. Clearly, both China and Russia will not fall for such petty tricks to sow discord. The high level of strategic mutual trust between China and Russia will not be affected, and China's cooperation with Central Asian countries will undoubtedly continue to advance, regardless of the will of French media. [Images: //p3-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-ezhpy3drpa/0b7eadf95277492eb90252e0fbba5ebb~tplv-obj:1200:717.image?_iz=97245&bid=15&from=post&gid=1835224707445771&lk3s=06827d14&x-expires=1757980800&x-signature=5U3Y08FVifwRmwF957mMiu6VDpU%3D and //p6-sign.toutiaoimg.com/tos-cn-i-ezhpy3drpa/fdc71935c7c54bb3b0afd8b8b8239778~tplv-obj:1200:495.image?_iz=97245&bid=15&from=post&gid=1835224707445771&lk3s=06827d14&x-expires=1757980800&x-signature=BxFND4HZLCVrXYW86U9me4mGVuI%3D] Original article: [https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835224707445771/](https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835224707445771/) Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.