At the beginning of the week, experts from the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) together with representatives of the country’s national research centers, in particular the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations (IACIR), the Center for Economic Research and Reforms under the Presidential Administration (CERR) held meetings in Beijing with the analytical circles of China.

IICA and the China Institute of International Studies held a roundtable on “China and Central Asia: Achievements and Prospects for Strengthening Good Neighborly Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation” with the assistance of the Uzbekistan Embassy in China.

Several meetings were held with the leadership of leading think tanks in China.

At the meetings, the participants highly assessed the current state and prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and China. It was emphasized that the upcoming state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to China and talks with the President of China Xi Jinping will become historic and will lay the foundation for a new stage in strengthening strategic relations between the countries.

Chinese experts highly appreciated the socio-political and socio-economic reforms in the country carried out under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, as well as foreign policy aimed at strengthening relations with the states of Central Asia. It was emphasized that the positive changes achieved in the region in recent years create additional conditions for further enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation between the Central Asian countries and China.

Representatives of the expert and analytical circles of China emphasized the prospects for interaction in the “Central Asia + China” format, an essential factor in the sustainable development of the Central Asian states and the region.

Chinese experts noted that China intends to promote this format further to help maintain integration processes in Central Asia.

During the discussions, specialists from research centers came up with several proposals and initiatives to develop and deepen bilateral and multilateral ties.

The event participants noted the relevance of the exchange of views and agreed to continue close contact between the think tanks of Uzbekistan and China.

G. Khonnazarov, UzA