An international conference on the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Uzbekistan in a New Era” was held in Tashkent. The Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Institute for Social Development of Europe and Asia at the Development Research Center of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China organized the event. Representatives from political and diplomatic circles of both countries and employees of leading analytical centers attended the conference, which was held in preparation for important upcoming bilateral events.
During the conference, Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Yu Jun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Uzbekistan, highlighted the successful development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries over the past 30 years. They also emphasized the strong political dialogue and friendly relations between the heads of the two states, with three telephone conversations and eight meetings between the leaders since 2017. In addition, President Xi Jinping of China visited Uzbekistan in 2022, while President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan visited China in 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
The conference also highlighted the significant progress in trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries, with nearly 60 documents signed in 2022 and 2023 during mutual state visits, which amounted to $40 billion in investment agreements and trade contracts. The “Central Asia-PRC” format has become a new platform for cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, and President Mirziyoyev has participated in the international Belt and Road forums three times, proposing the initiative to create the Green Silk Road.
The event also focused on the steady growth of trade, economic, and investment cooperation between China and Uzbekistan in recent years. Ambassador Yu Jun stated that China has become the leading trading partner and major investor in Uzbekistan’s economy, with trade turnover reaching almost $9 billion in 2022 and increasing by 34% to over $12 billion in 2023. Chinese investment in Uzbekistan has also increased fivefold to nearly $11 billion, with the number of enterprises with Chinese capital tripling.
Experts shared information on the main projects being implemented between the two countries, as well as the conditions and opportunities for Chinese investors in various industries such as green energy, oil and gas, chemical, IT, hydropower, light industry, automotive, and building materials.
The conference also highlighted the potential for digital development cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, with Uzbekistan expressing interest in learning from China’s experience and achievements in this field.
The participants emphasized the importance of further developing and strengthening the relationship between Uzbekistan and China, with the goal of taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. [gallery-15438]
Guzal Sattorova, photos by Nosirjon Khaydarov, UzA