President Approves Agreement with China on Establishing Cultural Centers

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved an intergovernmental agreement with China on the mutual establishment of cultural centers.

The corresponding decree was signed on 5 February 2026, completing the internal ratification process of the agreement, which was originally concluded in Beijing on 1 September 2025.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan has been designated as the competent authority responsible for its implementation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic is expected to send an official notification to the Chinese side confirming the completion of all domestic procedures required for the treaty to enter into force.

The initiative to create the cultural centers is part of a broader package of agreements signed during President Mirziyoyev’s state visit to China last fall. During that visit, the leaders of the two countries agreed to align Uzbekistan’s national development strategy, “Uzbekistan–2030,” with China’s global initiative, “Belt and Road.”

Experts view the establishment of these centers as a tool to deepen humanitarian and cultural ties amid rapidly growing economic cooperation.

In addition to promoting Uzbekistan’s national heritage, the centers are expected to serve as platforms for expanding Chinese language education in Uzbekistan, whose largest trading partner is China.