At the roundtable discussion on “Internal development processes and prospects of strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China”, which was held at the International Institute for Central Asia, the participants noted the special importance of developing bilateral relations in “CA+China” format, where Uzbekistan stands for the joint implementation of long-term and mutually beneficial projects in the region, which fully meets the interests of all the countries.

IICA Director Vladimir Norov stressed that these projects will contribute to ensuring sustainable socio-economic development, and integration of the countries of the region into the global economy and transport-logistics corridors. It was noted that over 30 years these relations have received a breakthrough development, reaching the level of strategic partnership. In 2022, China increased trade with Central Asian countries by 45.4 percent, the trade turnover increased to $70.2 billion. We must also recognize the importance of cooperation between Tashkent and Beijing within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, the Green Silk Road and Digital Silk Road initiatives have been established, and work is underway to develop a Healthy Silk Road, Green Energy, Green Infrastructure and Green Finance. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, international cooperation is actively developing. It contributes to the expansion of the production chain, the transfer of economic growth centers from West to East, and the change in the geography of global trade flows.

The “Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan – China” railway project launched at the SCO Samarkand Summit is of historical importance, which will shorten the route from China to Europe by 900 kilometers and reduce the duration of transportation by eight days.

Uzbekistan also supports the connectivity of the regions of Central and South Asia, including through the construction of the “Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar” railway. This route will expand logistics opportunities, contribute to the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, and enhance trade-economic ties in the North-South direction.

G.Khonnazarov, UzA