Uzbekistan and China: Millennia-long friendship and cooperation

Taking this opportunity, I would like to invite our Chinese friends to take an active part in these events and get acquainted with the unique and centuries-old culture of the Uzbek people.

The multifaceted cooperation between our countries is a vivid model of friendship and mutual support in the international arena.

Uzbekistan is actively participating in various programs as part of the implementation of China's initiative — "One Belt, One Road", which has become a global consolidating force.

In 10 years, this grandiose idea of the revival of the Great Silk Road has gained supporters in all corners of the planet, uniting two-thirds of the world's countries. Today, from an appealing concept, it is turning into a practical reality. By renouncing the dividing line based on civilizational, economic and cultural differences, it has opened a whole new formula for strengthening interstate dialogue and cooperation, which enable to fully unite the efforts of mankind for common prosperity.

For us, the Belt and Road Initiative is not just an infrastructure project. Through the joint implementation of the initiative, the region is becoming an important link in global connectivity, overcoming transport remoteness.

And today we can firmly state that the earlier voiced predictions of skeptics about the predestined fate of the region's countries to become only a transit corridor for China's trade with Europe, South Asia and the Middle East failed to come true.

Today, investments are increasing to Central Asia, with the number of joint high-technology industries growing, which combined, enhances the economic potential of our countries.

China's strategic role enables Central Asia to be open to broad cooperation with the rest of the world, turning the region's geographical disadvantages into advantages. This, in turn, is an important condition for overall stability and sustainable development.

This is evidenced by the outcomes of the first summit of the heads of state of Central Asia and China, held in May last year in Xi'an, which were a breakthrough in our relations, and defined the future development of multilateral cooperation.

This format has huge potential for building a model of comprehensive development of the states of the region and the western provinces of China, opens the prospects for transition to close industrial and technological cooperation, as well as for the development of transport, digital and humanitarian connectivity of the Central Asian countries with China.

Despite the instability and turbulence in world politics, we are looking into the future with confidence and building joint creative plans. That is what we will be talking about in our upcoming meeting with the distinguished President of China, Xi Jinping.

I consider it is essential to develop a new long-term agenda and forward-looking programs for the implementation of the key tasks of multidimensional cooperation for decades to come.

First, the priorities of the Samarkand Solidarity Initiative for Common Security and Prosperity and President Xi Jinping's Global Civilization Initiative are in many ways similar and aimed at achieving one noble goal: strengthening global inter-civilizational dialogue.

Nothing should prevent its development, the creation of the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and stability, and seeking mutually acceptable compromises on the most pressing issues.

Second, we are interested in taking our relations to a qualitatively new and higher level. The difficulty and dynamics of the processes taking place in the world today require regular exchanges of views and close cooperation across the entire spectrum of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation.

Our countries are united in their desire to ensure stability and security in the Central Asian region, and the SCO area in general, including addressing the negative consequences of the situation in Afghanistan.

It is important to establish mechanisms for regular, inclusive political dialogue, to achieve a multidimensional and meaningful interaction of all key agencies. The process of establishing and strengthening of relations of cordial friendship, good-neighborliness and multifaceted cooperation must be constant.

Third, it is vital to maintain and build a dynamic pace of all-round trade and economic development, given the increasing range of new challenges to sustainable development such as the worsening energy, food and environmental crises.

It is already planned to soon approve a long-term Program of Large Infrastructure Projects with the participation of Chinese partners in the water, electric and energy grid, as well as road and railway industry in Uzbekistan.

In these, it is important to envisage the strengthening of cooperation in the field of industrial cooperation, and the expansion of digital and green technology transfers.

Dynamic development of our country, huge human resources and constantly growing scientific-technological and production-industrial potential inspire confidence in fruitful and effective implementation of this Program.

Fourth, joint work to ensure the development of transport and logistics infrastructure of foreign economic activity of our countries as part of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative stands as a key direction for the long-term cooperation.

I am confident that the projects within the Belt and Road Initiative will unlock the untapped potential of Central Asia for promoting connectivity and inclusive cooperation with the rest of the world.

We attach strategic importance to the formation of reliable and cost-effective international corridors with market access to the countries of South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the entire Eurasian continent.

Development of a system of multioptional and multimodal routes for transportation of goods and passengers between China and Central Asia with access to the world market, creation of new terminals, construction of high-tech production storage facilities and complex infrastructure of roadside services, and digitalization of logistics will be an important contribution to the development of intracontinental links along the historic Great Silk Road.

Fifth, the importance of the role of people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening Uzbek-Chinese friendship is now becoming more evident. We have established strong institutional foundations for the development of cultural and humanitarian exchange, cooperation in education, healthcare, sports, tourism and archaeology. This has become a shared wealth, an inviolable foundation of understanding of our peoples.

As the famous poet of the Tang Dynasty Wang Zhihuan says, "One, wishing to see a thousand miles further, ought to elevate yet to another level."

The steady positive dynamics of the development of the entire spectrum of Uzbek-Chinese relations confirm that our noble thoughts and ideas will be indeed fulfilled, creating conditions for further deepening and giving new practical substance to a comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era.

The year 2024 is the year of the "Green Dragon", promising to bring luck, well-being and prosperity.

Taking this opportunity, I congratulate all the people of friendly China on the coming New Year on the lunar calendar — a wonderful holiday Chun Jie, wishing peace, prosperity and many successes on the journey of fulfilling the Chinese dream in the year of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.