Following successful negotiations in Beijing, Uzbekistan and China have reached an agreement to significantly boost air travel between the two nations. The comprehensive accord, signed by representatives from both countries, outlines plans to increase the number of weekly flights to 100, with each country's airlines contributing 50 flights, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan reported.
The agreement also aims to broaden the flight destinations, allowing Uzbek and Chinese airlines the flexibility to operate in any city within the two countries, a significant expansion from the current seven designated cities.
Furthermore, the agreement introduces a significant policy shift by allowing for an unrestricted number of airlines to provide services, replacing the previous limitation of three designated airlines. This liberalization is expected to encourage competition, foster innovation, and contribute to the overall growth of the aviation sector.
The agreement is scheduled to take effect in April of this year, pending final approval at an additional meeting of the aviation governments of both Uzbekistan and China.
This development comes as a testament to the growing economic and trade ties between the two nations. Uzbekistan and China have experienced a steady increase in bilateral trade, with the turnover surging by 40% last year alone. China has emerged as Uzbekistan's top trade partner, with a five-fold increase in Chinese investments in various sectors. This influx of capital has led to a threefold rise in enterprises with Chinese ownership across industries such as high-tech, alternative energy, chemistry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, electrical engineering, and infrastructure modernization.
In addition, the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and China, Xi Jinping, held high-level negotiations on January 24, further solidifying their nations' strong bilateral relationship. The meeting resulted in the signing of 14 agreements spanning environmental protection, technical and economic cooperation, human resources development, state research institutions, Chinese language teaching, and a tourism cooperation plan for the years 2024-2026. These agreements underscore the comprehensive and diverse nature of the partnership between Uzbekistan and China, reflecting a commitment to further deepen collaboration across various sectors.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)