Expanding cooperation built on solid foundation of trust

The mutual trust forged between Uzbekistan and China, the close interaction between their respective governments, and the exchanges among experts and members of the business community and academic circles of the two countries create a solid foundation for expanding and strengthening multifaceted cooperation.

It should be emphasized that, thanks to the contacts between the two sides, cooperation between the two countries in various fields, such as economy, energy, science, education, culture and security, has intensified. They have also facilitated an exchange of views on regional and world issues such as the situation in Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism, cyber security, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.

In addition, cooperation within international and regional structures, such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Central Asia-China mechanism, BRICS Plus and other international organizations, has been strengthened. The two sides have been providing mutual political support in the international arena, constructively cooperating on strengthening global and regional security and socioeconomic development.

Uzbekistan-China relations have reached a high level of interaction, their comprehensive strategic partnership is expanding in the new era, and economic ties are being strengthened. China continues to hold first place among Uzbekistan's trade partners. There are 2,141 enterprises in Uzbekistan with the participation of Chinese investments, including 601 enterprises established in 2023.

Joint projects in the oil and gas, chemical, telecommunications, infrastructure, hydropower, agriculture, light industry and construction materials sectors are being fruitfully implemented. Cooperation between Uzbekistan and China in the sphere of modern technologies has increased.

In recent years, such promising areas as green energy, information technology, e-commerce and artificial intelligence have become new drivers of Uzbek-Chinese interaction, which is accelerating the technological modernization and diversification of the Uzbek economy, as well as building up the country's export potential.

Over the past 10 years, cooperation between Uzbekistan and China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative has achieved significant results. This cooperation includes various projects in infrastructure, energy, transportation, trade, tourism and other areas. It is noteworthy that last year, UzAuto and BYD reached an agreement to establish the BYD Uzbekistan Factory, a joint venture in Uzbekistan for the production and sale of new energy vehicles. This is the first joint venture of the giant Chinese maker of electric vehicles outside China.

The Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation and its subcommittees have been playing an important role, and the pairing of the BRI and the construction of "New Uzbekistan "continues to deepen, laying a solid foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two sides are also making joint efforts to improve the China-Central Asia mechanism, conducting dialogue in various fields and constantly filling bilateral relations with new content.

On Oct 17 and 18, the leader of Uzbekistan, along with the heads of state and government leaders of 140 countries, participated in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. In the course of his speech, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a number of important initiatives that will meet not only the interests of Uzbekistan, but also those of all Central Asian states, China and other countries participating in the Belt and Road.

In general, Uzbekistan and China are demonstrating their readiness to work together to address global challenges and promote sustainable development in Central Asia. The China-Central Asia Summit held in the historic city of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, was of epochal significance for the development of relations between the states of Central Asia and China. The event was notable for being the first time that China has hosted the summit and the first summit where the heads of the six states met in person since the establishment of diplomatic relations 31 years ago.

In addition, China and Uzbekistan actively cooperate in culture, tourism, science and education. The Day of Culture of Uzbekistan will be held in China in the spring of this year. And there is a growing interest in learning Chinese in Uzbekistan, especially among young people. The fruitful activities of the Confucius Institute in Tashkent and Samarkand make a great contribution to this. Plans have been outlined to expand Chinese language teaching and exchanges of young scholars.

China and Uzbekistan are neighboring countries and have common interests in security and stability. Close cooperation and friendly relations between the two sides have created a solid foundation for effectively addressing common problems and confronting challenges and threats. Uzbekistan and China are demonstrating their readiness to work together to address global challenges and promote sustainable development in Central Asia.

The China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative have been promoted in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization under the presidency of Uzbekistan. And Uzbekistan is ready to strengthen interaction with China within international and regional structures such as the SCO, the China-Central Asia Summit and BRICS Plus in order to uphold security and stability in the region on the basis of the "Shanghai spirit".

The author is former director of the International Institute of Central Asia, former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Uzbekistan's former foreign minister.