Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Today, the Development Strategy Center hosted an event to present a special issue of the Uzbekistan Strategy journal.

The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Uzbekistan Yu Jun, representatives of Uzbek ministries and agencies, experts from think tanks, as well as members of the media.

It was noted that the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled to take place on 31 August – 1 September this year in Tianjin, China.

In this context, the Development Strategy Center, in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, prepared a special edition of the Uzbekistan Strategy journal devoted to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China, as well as multilateral cooperation within the SCO.

Executive Director of the Development Strategy Center Eldor Tulyakov emphasized in his speech that today the all-encompassing strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China, along with multilateral cooperation within the SCO, is rapidly advancing.

The journal features analytical articles prepared by heads of relevant ministries and agencies, as well as leading experts from research institutions of both countries.

It was underlined that China is one of Uzbekistan’s largest foreign trade partners. Chinese investments are primarily directed toward energy, infrastructure, transport, and industry. Major transport and logistics projects have played a significant role, helping bilateral trade surpass US$12.4 billion in 2024 alone.

Direct Chinese investment in Uzbekistan has already exceeded US$10 billion. As of 1 August, there are 4,250 enterprises with Chinese capital operating in Uzbekistan in areas such as energy, telecommunications, transport, mining, textiles, and digital infrastructure.

Multilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and China is also actively expanding across a range of international platforms, including the UN, the SCO, the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, and other initiatives.

One of the priority areas of cooperation in the coming years will be the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a project designed to become a new strategic corridor linking East and Central Asia with the Middle East and Europe.

In addition, Chinese companies are actively involved in Uzbekistan’s green energy programs. In Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, and Jizzakh regions, solar power plants with a combined capacity of over 1.5 GW have already been put into operation.

Speaking about cooperation within the SCO, Mr. Tulyakov stressed that Uzbekistan and China, as founding members, remain among the most active participants in the organization. In recent years, Uzbekistan has advanced more than one hundred initiatives within the SCO in fields such as security, transport, digital technologies, the green economy, and food security.

During the presentation, Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun remarked:
“The SCO Summit in Tianjin this year is an important diplomatic event not only for China, but for the entire SCO family. To create a favorable atmosphere ahead of the summit, the Chinese Embassy, together with the Development Strategy Center, has prepared this special edition of the journal dedicated to the SCO.”

The Ambassador stressed that the published materials highlight the SCO’s founding mission, its achievements, and the record of cooperation between China and Uzbekistan within the framework of the organization.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Development Strategy Center and its team for their work, as well as to everyone supporting the advancement of cooperation between China and Uzbekistan and contributing to the strengthening of the SCO,” the Ambassador noted. “Over 24 years, the SCO—guided by the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and a commitment to common development—has evolved from a security-focused cooperation mechanism into a broad regional organization encompassing politics, security, economy, and culture. Today, it has become a respected and constructive force in addressing international and regional issues.”

He also drew attention to the fact that the upcoming Tianjin summit, which will bring together more than 20 heads of state and leaders of 10 international organizations, will be the largest in the history of the SCO and the highlight of China’s chairmanship. China expressed its readiness to work together with Uzbekistan and other member states to hold the summit in a spirit of friendship and harmony, further consolidating the SCO community of shared destiny.

It was further noted that Uzbekistan and China consistently strengthen their multilateral cooperation within the SCO. As founding members and active participants, they continue to put forward practical initiatives to enhance efficiency. Uzbekistan, as the presiding country, has hosted the SCO Council of Heads of State four times, most recently in Samarkand in 2022. That summit resulted in a record package of 44 documents, including agreements, concepts, programs, and other arrangements. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev advanced proposals aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, ensuring food security, creating an alliance of free economic zones, organizing an SCO trade fair, and other initiatives.

There is no doubt that the mutually beneficial strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China will continue to develop steadily, while political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, cultural and humanitarian ties, scientific and technological exchanges, as well as joint efforts to ensure regional and global security within the SCO will further intensify.

The special issue of the journal dedicated to the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China, as well as multilateral cooperation within the SCO, contains contemporary analytical reviews, expert opinions, and practical insights. The materials were prepared by leaders of relevant ministries and leading scholars from research institutions.

The publication aims to promote a deeper understanding of the strategic partnership and the dynamically developing cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.

Experts who spoke at the event emphasized that the timing of the journal’s presentation—on the eve of the important SCO summit—reflects the growing importance attached to strengthening political and economic cooperation in the region.