Uzbekistan Human Rights Centre and Peking University Expand Ties

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights has hosted a meeting between First Deputy Director Mirzatilla Tillabayev and a delegation from Peking University led by Shi Yue, Director of the Centre for Central Asian Studies, Deputy Dean of the Institute for Area and Regional Studies, and Associate Professor at the School of Foreign Languages.

The visit by the Chinese delegation was organised at the initiative of Peking University's Institute for Area and Regional Studies and took place within the framework of the research project "The Silk Road: Past and Present," focusing on the theme of China-Uzbekistan economic cooperation and civilisational exchange. The project is being carried out from 10 to 22 June 2026 in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

During the meeting, representatives of Peking University were briefed in detail on the key directions of reforms being carried out under Uzbekistan's New Uzbekistan strategy, including legal modernisation, the protection of human rights and freedoms, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

The Chinese side expressed particular interest in Uzbekistan's experience in developing national human rights strategies, implementing poverty reduction programmes, and advancing Uzbek-Chinese cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Peking University representatives spoke highly of the work being carried out in Uzbekistan on targeted social support, the expansion of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, the development of education and healthcare systems, and the strengthening of interfaith harmony and social stability.

It was noted that poverty reduction occupies an important place in the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy and is regarded as an integral part of ensuring socioeconomic human rights. In this connection, Chinese researchers expressed interest in conducting joint academic research on a comparative analysis of the two countries' experiences in combating poverty.

The meeting also underscored that Uzbekistan's open and constructive foreign policy has transformed Central Asia into a space of good-neighbourliness, trust, and mutually beneficial partnership. Participants noted the strengthening of regional cooperation, the development of transport and communication links, and the expansion of cultural and humanitarian engagement among the region's states.

The Chinese side also spoke highly of the fourth China–Central Asia Human Rights Development Forum held in Tashkent, emphasising its importance as an effective platform for equal dialogue on human rights, sustainable development, and inter-civilisational engagement.

Particular attention during the meeting was given to the development of international cooperation in the field of human rights. Peking University representatives provided information on China's fifth National Human Rights Action Plan for 2026–2030, presented in Beijing, which provides for the comprehensive advancement of economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, with priority attention to the right to development.

Delegation head Shi Yue spoke highly of the work of the National Human Rights Centre and the reforms under way in Uzbekistan, noting that Uzbekistan's experience of legal modernisation has generated considerable interest in Chinese academic circles as a successful development model oriented toward ensuring human dignity and wellbeing.

Special note was made of the publication prepared by the National Centre, "Modern China and New Uzbekistan: Human Rights, Development and Strategic Partnership," which Chinese scholars described as making a significant contribution to the development of comparative legal studies and further strengthening academic cooperation between the two countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides confirmed their mutual interest in expanding long-term cooperation.

Agreements were reached on the development of joint research projects, the exchange of academic materials, participation by Peking University representatives in the Fifth Samarkand Human Rights Forum, and the further strengthening of academic ties between research institutions of Uzbekistan and China.