Current issues of further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China and expansion of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries were discussed.
The parties exchanged views on the prospects for deepening regional interaction, including the agenda of the upcoming Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
At the meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of the President of China Xi Jinping to the President of Uzbekistan. It was emphasized that the Chinese side highly appreciates the current level of bilateral relations developing along an upward trajectory. Full support was expressed for the ongoing political transformations and socio-economic reforms in New Uzbekistan.
It should be noted that China is traditionally one of the leading and reliable partners of Uzbekistan. Trade-economic and investment cooperation is developing dynamically. Since the beginning of this year, the trade turnover has increased by 35 percent. It is expected that by the end of the year, the indicators of trade turnover will approach $10 billion.
Several investment projects of industrial cooperation and infrastructure modernization are being implemented with the participation of Chinese companies and banking institutions. The volume of investments in Uzbekistan’s economy in recent years has exceeded $10 billion.
The President of Uzbekistan emphasized the opportunities available for the cardinal expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation, primarily in such areas as the fight against poverty, export supplies of agricultural and industrial products, implementation of innovation, alternative energy, cloud technologies, IT sector, and others.
The main attention was paid to the promotion of the humanitarian exchange program, including in education and healthcare, the production of vaccines and the creation of specialized medical institutions.
Issues related to the acceleration of the preparation and implementation of strategic regional projects, primarily, China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan and Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railways were considered.
Mutual efforts to provide practical assistance to the peaceful development and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan were supported at the meeting. The Chinese delegation highly appreciated the fruitful results of the Tashkent Conference on these issues.
