President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and Chairman Xi Jinping of China reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties under their all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, during a meeting in Astana on July 3. The discussions highlighted notable progress across various sectors since President Mirziyoyev's state visit to China earlier this year, marking a new era of cooperation between the two nations.
President Mirziyoyev expressed sincere gratitude to Chairman Xi for China's steadfast support of Uzbekistan's ongoing reforms and its role in enhancing friendly relations between the two countries. Both leaders acknowledged the substantial advancements in bilateral cooperation, emphasizing intensified contacts between governmental bodies, parliaments, and industry departments.
Key achievements noted include a robust trade turnover reaching $14bn last year, with ambitions to elevate this figure to $20bn in the near future. The current investment portfolio exceeds $50bn, underscoring over $3bn in Chinese investments disbursed in Uzbekistan this year alone, leading to the establishment of more than 500 new joint ventures.
The leaders also agreed to accelerate strategic cooperation programs in infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, and green energy. They highlighted recent milestones such as the launch of the Uzbek-Chinese technology park and the inauguration of the region's first electric vehicle production facility by BYD in Jizzakh.
Furthermore, partnerships with leading Chinese financial institutions are expanding, including collaborations with the Silk Road Fund and progress on projects supported by the Exim Bank of China, such as the Olympic village construction in Tashkent. A regional branch of the bank is slated to open soon in Tashkent, further bolstering financial cooperation.
In addition to economic ties, cultural and educational exchanges were highlighted, including plans to host the Forum of Confucius Institutes in Central Asia in Tashkent. The expansion of Chinese educational institutions and vocational training programs in Uzbekistan, such as the introduction of the "Lu Ban Workshop" system, further underscores bilateral cooperation in education and human resource development.
The meeting concluded with President Mirziyoyev inviting Chairman Xi to visit Uzbekistan.
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