A large-scale Uzbekistan – China Business Forum took place in Beijing as part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the People’s Republic of China.
More than 700 entrepreneurs, over 600 representatives of leading Chinese companies, and approximately 100 of the largest enterprises in Uzbekistan participated in the event.
The Forum, organized by the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in China, has become the largest platform for business dialogue aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
On the Uzbek side, the forum was headed by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjayev, and on the Chinese side, by Vice Chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Li Qingshuang.
In his speech, Jamshid Khodjayev emphasized that Uzbekistan has implemented significant reforms in recent years to liberalize the economy, enhance the investment climate, and expand infrastructure. These steps have allowed the country to significantly increase the inflow of foreign investment, accelerate industrial growth, and strengthen its position in global markets. He noted that the Government of Uzbekistan is ready to provide full support to foreign entrepreneurs and create all conditions for the successful implementation of joint projects.
In his welcoming speech, Li Qingshuang expressed the Chinese side’s high interest in expanding trade and economic cooperation with Uzbekistan, emphasizing the importance of new projects in industrial cooperation, energy, logistics, and agribusiness.
As noted, the forum was held against the backdrop of dynamically developing relations between Uzbekistan and China. Thus, the trade turnover between the two countries in 2023 amounted to $13.8 billion (+55.1%). In 2024, the volume of trade amounted to $13.07 billion (-5.4%), while exports increased by 6.3%. Between January and July 2025, the trade turnover reached $8.78 billion.
The Uzbekistan – China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, which comprises eight subcommittees, has been operational since 2011. To date, seven of its meetings have been held, the most recent of which took place on May 13, 2024, in Tashkent, with the participation of Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Liu Guozhong.
Investment cooperation also demonstrates the rapid dynamics of collaboration. In 2017-2024, the total amount of Chinese investments in Uzbekistan amounted to $24.6 billion, including a record $10.4 billion in 2024 (+242%). Since the beginning of this year, over $5.7 billion has been raised (+6%), and by the end of 2025, it is planned to develop more than $15 billion (+45%). In 2024, 64 projects worth $1.9 billion were launched.
The holding of the Second Uzbekistan – China Interregional Forum in Samarkand on June 1-2, 2025, which was attended by over 800 Chinese companies, marked another significant milestone. As a result, investment agreements and trade contracts worth $10 billion were signed.
As Deputy Minister of Energy Umid Mamadaminov noted that the business forum held in Beijing was beneficial for both sides in all respects.
– It is worth mentioning the energy sector separately here. The system is currently undergoing a transition period, and cooperation between Uzbekistan and China is essential in this process. It is worth noting that large-scale projects integrating renewable energy sources are being implemented in our country. Almost 30 percent of them are carried out by Chinese companies. Today, more than 30 major initiatives are being implemented with their participation, which includes projects worth more than $10 billion.
China is a global leader in renewable energy sources, accounting for 80 percent of the total volume of work in this area. Therefore, this country is a strategic partner for Uzbekistan.
Cooperation has been established with leading Chinese design institutes on the implementation of large-scale projects in the energy sector. Several initiatives aimed at the strategic development of the system are currently being implemented. In this sense, China’s extensive experience plays a crucial role in the development of Uzbekistan’s energy sector.
The forum, which took place within the framework of the President’s visit to China, is of great importance. Bilateral agreements have been reached in each area. This will create the basis for bringing cooperation to a new level and open up vast opportunities in the future, – said U. Mamadaminov.
A ceremony of exchanging documents on bilateral cooperation took place within the framework of the business forum. After that, B2B and G2B meetings were held. The entrepreneurs discussed in detail promising areas for collaboration and outlined concrete steps to implement joint projects.
It should be noted that the forum’s results once again confirmed the mutual desire of Uzbekistan and China to expand their strategic partnership in trade, economic, industrial, and investment spheres. This presents significant opportunities for joint development and the strengthening of positions in regional and global markets.
Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA