Mirziyoyev holds talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing

north_east

SCO Summit concludes with 20 agreements signed in Tianjin

On September 2, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in Beijing as part of his official visit to China. The meeting took place with the participation of members of both countries’ official delegations, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.

The two leaders discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China under all circumstances and expanding practical cooperation.

At the start of the meeting, Mirziyoyev congratulated Xi Jinping and the people of China on the 80th anniversary of the Victory and the successful hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin.

The Uzbek leader once again stressed that Xi Jinping’s global governance initiative was put forward in a timely manner and carries great significance.

Both presidents highlighted that significant achievements have been made in bilateral relations in recent years. They expressed satisfaction with the growing pace of high-level contacts, the strengthening of political dialogue, and mutual support on key issues.

Uzbekistan reaffirmed its consistent stance in supporting the One China policy and in combating the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism, and separatism.

“Trade, economic, technological, and financial cooperation is rapidly developing. Last year, trade turnover exceeded 14 billion dollars, and since the beginning of this year, it has grown by 23 percent. The goal is to raise this figure to 20 billion dollars through mutual supplies of industrial and agricultural products,” the statement said.

The portfolio of investment projects now exceeds 60 billion dollars, with 64 projects worth over 10 billion dollars launched in 2024. Joint technoparks and special industrial zones are operating across the country, BYD electric car production is expanding, and localization levels are increasing.

A successful business forum was held ahead of the visit. Promising projects have been developed in green energy, energy efficiency, modernization and digitalization of public transport, toll road construction, deep processing of minerals, as well as in chemistry, water management, agriculture, tourism, and urban development.

Partnerships with Eximbank, the China Development Bank, the Silk Road Fund, and other institutions are expanding. With Eximbank’s support, the Olympic Village was recently completed in Tashkent.

The intensification of interregional cooperation was praised. China will continue providing expertise to support poverty reduction initiatives in Uzbekistan based on Chinese experience.

A proposal was made to establish a joint Uzbek-Chinese Center for Artificial Intelligence to advance innovation and train specialists. The leaders welcomed the launch of the practical stage of construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan strategic railway.

The importance of strengthening cooperation in science, medicine, education, and tourism was emphasized. A branch of the Northwestern Rural and Forestry University and the International Mathematics Center have been opened in Uzbekistan. An agreement has been signed to open a branch of Xi’an Petroleum University, while Beijing Institute of Technology also plans to open a branch.

The second Education Forum will be held in Uzbekistan later this year. Both sides supported expanding Chinese language programs, increasing quotas for Uzbek students, and developing Confucius Institutes.

Plans are underway to establish Lu Ban Workshops in Uzbekistan to train specialists in energy, mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, medicine, and agriculture.

To boost tourism, the number of flights between the two countries is being increased, and a visa-free regime has been introduced. Uzbekistan is also participating in a major exhibition at the National Museum of China, with art exhibitions scheduled in Shanghai and Beijing in 2027. A historic agreement on the opening of cultural centers in both countries will be signed during this visit.

The leaders also exchanged views on the international agenda, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination and mutual support within the United Nations, the SCO, the Central Asia-China format, and other multilateral platforms.

“At the end of the talks, the President of Uzbekistan invited the Chinese leader to visit the country. The meeting, as always, was held in a spirit of trust, openness, and friendship,” the press service reported.

For reference, the SCO summit took place in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1, attended by leaders of more than 20 countries and representatives of 10 international organizations. Fifteen new cooperation agreements were signed at the summit. The SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, initially including six countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in 2024.