Mirziyoyev Discusses Expansion of Strategic Partnership Between Uzbekistan and AIIB

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 February, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) led by its President, Zou Jiayi, who is paying her first visit to the country in her new capacity.

At the outset of the meeting, the Head of State warmly congratulated Zou Jiayi on her appointment, noting the importance of her leadership for further strengthening cooperation with one of the world’s most authoritative multilateral financial institutions.

The sides held a substantive discussion on practical issues related to expanding the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

It was emphasized that in recent years cooperation with AIIB has been developing dynamically and on a sustainable basis. The total portfolio of ongoing and prospective joint projects has already exceeded US$7 billion, while AIIB financing alone amounted to more than US$1 billion in 2025.

President Mirziyoyev expressed support for further expanding effective cooperation across a number of priority areas. These include support for the private sector, the development of women’s and youth entrepreneurship, the preparation and promotion of public-private partnership projects, assistance in implementing poverty reduction programmes, as well as the development of alternative energy, improvements in energy efficiency, modernization of water supply systems, and support for the social sector.

Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of AIIB’s active participation in major regional infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening economic connectivity and ensuring sustainable development in Central Asia.

For her part, AIIB President Zou Jiayi highly praised the scale of the socio-economic reforms underway in Uzbekistan and reaffirmed the Bank’s readiness to continue providing comprehensive support for the reform agenda being implemented under the “New Uzbekistan” strategy.