Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — China intends to coordinate development strategies with Uzbekistan and deepen cooperation in energy, natural resources, artificial intelligence and modern agriculture. Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the statement during talks with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Tashkent on 17 October, Xinhua reported.
One of the key priorities will be the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. Li said Beijing was ready to work with Tashkent to strengthen infrastructure and financial connectivity and ensure high-quality implementation of the project to deliver more tangible results.
China is also ready to increase imports of high-quality and specialised products from Uzbekistan. Li urged the Uzbek side to make greater use of the China International Import Expo to promote its products in the Chinese market.
According to the Chinese premier, the August meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had set the future course for bilateral relations.
The two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027. Beijing intends to use the occasion to strengthen traditional friendship, deepen political trust and expand practical cooperation.
Li also proposed making greater use of the mutual visa-free travel agreement, increasing travel between the countries and expanding exchanges in culture, tourism, education, youth affairs and interregional cooperation. These efforts, he said, would help strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
China is ready to enhance coordination with Uzbekistan within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the China-Central Asia mechanism and the United Nations.
Li stressed the importance of joint efforts to implement the four global initiatives, promote a multipolar world based on equality and order, and advance inclusive globalisation.
In turn, Aripov said Uzbekistan highly valued China's development achievements and appreciated Beijing's support for reforms and transformation in the country. Under the joint leadership of the two countries' heads of state, he said, bilateral relations continued to reach new levels.
Aripov reaffirmed Uzbekistan's readiness to facilitate the full implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and other initiatives under the Belt and Road cooperation framework.
The two sides intend to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, mining, customs, finance, digital technologies, artificial intelligence and environmental protection. They also plan to develop tourism and educational exchanges, strengthen interregional ties and coordinate their positions on multilateral platforms.
Before the talks, Li and Aripov watched video presentations on practical cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.
Following the meeting, the sides attended a signing ceremony for cooperation documents covering trade and economic affairs, education, customs, healthcare and poverty reduction.
Additional documents on cooperation in e-commerce, climate issues and media were also signed during the visit.
On Saturday afternoon, Li laid a wreath at the Independence Monument.
