Uzbekistan and China agree to expand strategic cooperation

The two leaders reviewed key bilateral and regional issues and expressed satisfaction with the unprecedented strengthening of the Uzbekistan-China friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership in recent years.

President Mirziyoyev noted that the agreements reached during his state visit to China in January 2024 are being steadily implemented. Exchanges and cooperation at all levels have significantly intensified, including the launch of a strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers of the two countries. Notably, the second Regional Forum was successfully held in Samarkand earlier this June.

Trade, economic, and financial-investment cooperation are developing at a rapid pace. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $14 billion, while the portfolio of joint investment projects has exceeded $60 billion. Joint technoparks and special industrial zones are operating effectively across Uzbekistan, and the production of BYD electric vehicles is expanding.

The leaders emphasized the importance of advancing promising projects in green energy, oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, mining, textiles, food production, and construction, as well as in logistics, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and digitalization.

Uzbekistan has also established productive partnerships with China’s leading financial institutions. Plans are underway to expand the investment platform in cooperation with the Silk Road Fund. With the support of the Export-Import Bank of China, the construction of the Olympic Village in Tashkent is nearing completion, and a regional branch of the bank has been opened in the capital.

Special attention was given to strengthening cooperation in poverty reduction. The two leaders also underlined the strategic importance of accelerating the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway.

Both sides expressed interest in boosting cooperation in education, science, tourism, culture, human resource development, and Chinese language education. China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University has opened a branch in Uzbekistan, and an International Mathematics Center has been established at Urgench State University in partnership with Peking University.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute's operations in Uzbekistan, and China’s “Luban Workshop” vocational training model is being introduced in the country. Cultural and arts weeks are planned to be held in both nations next year.

During the meeting, the leaders also exchanged views on international issues and reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination and mutual support within the frameworks of the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the “Central Asia–China” format, and other multilateral platforms.

At the conclusion of the talks, a joint statement was signed in the presence of both leaders, announcing the completion of bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).