Uzbekistan and China discuss strategic projects and WTO accession

Today, June 17, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping held talks in Astana. This was reported by the Presidential Press Service.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed urgent bilateral and regional issues. Both heads of state expressed deep satisfaction that, in recent years, the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China have reached an unprecedented level, regardless of external circumstances.

“The agreements reached during the President of Uzbekistan’s state visit to China in January 2024 are being consistently implemented,” the report noted.

It was emphasized that contacts and exchanges at all levels have significantly intensified. A strategic dialogue between the foreign ministers has been established, and in early June, the second Forum of Regions was successfully held in Samarkand.

Trade, economic, financial, and investment cooperation is developing rapidly. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached $14 billion, and the investment project portfolio exceeded $60 billion.

Joint technoparks and special industrial zones are operating successfully in various regions of Uzbekistan. Promising projects are being developed in green energy, oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, metallurgical, mining, textile, food, and construction sectors, as well as in logistics, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and digitalization.

“Mutually beneficial cooperation has been established with leading Chinese financial institutions. Plans are underway to expand the investment platform with the Silk Road Fund. The Olympic Village in Tashkent is being completed with the support of China Eximbank, which has also opened a regional branch in the Uzbek capital,” the statement said.

Special attention was given to enhancing cooperation in poverty alleviation. The leaders also stressed the importance of accelerating the construction of the strategic China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway.

Interest was expressed in deepening exchanges in education, science, tourism, culture, personnel training, and Chinese language learning. A branch of China’s Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University is operating in Uzbekistan, and the International Mathematics Center was recently established at Urgench University in partnership with Peking University. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute, and China’s “Lu Ban Workshop” vocational education model is being introduced in Uzbekistan.

It is planned to organize culture and art weeks in both countries next year.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international matters. They emphasized the need to continue coordination and mutual support within the framework of the UN, the SCO, the Central Asia–China format, and other multilateral organizations.

Finally, it was announced in the presence of both leaders that a protocol had been signed on the completion of bilateral negotiations regarding Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).