Photo: Press service of the president of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and China have successfully concluded bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The corresponding protocol was signed on June 17 in the presence of both countries’ leaders, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Xi Jinping, during the “Central Asia–China” summit in Astana.
According to President Mirziyoyev’s press service, the presidents of Uzbekistan and China discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation as well as regional issues.
The two leaders noted that their nations have reached an unprecedented level of strategic partnership in recent years. Agreements made during the Uzbek president’s state visit to China in January 2024 are reportedly being implemented steadily.
Among recent developments, a Strategic Dialogue between foreign ministers has been launched, and earlier this month Samarkand hosted the second Regional Forum with participation from Chinese delegates.
The two sides emphasized the positive momentum in economic and trade relations. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $14 billion, and the portfolio of joint investment projects now exceeds $60 billion.
Chinese-supported industrial parks and technology zones are operating in Uzbekistan, and production of BYD-brand electric vehicles is expanding. The two countries are also exploring cooperation in green energy, oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metallurgy, textiles, food production, logistics, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence, and digitalization.
China’s financial institutions play a significant role in the partnership. The Silk Road Fund plans to expand its investment platform in Uzbekistan, and the Export-Import Bank of China is participating in the construction of an Olympic village in Tashkent.
Mirziyoyev and Xi also discussed deepening cooperation in poverty alleviation and reaffirmed the importance of accelerating construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway.
Humanitarian cooperation was also on the agenda. Uzbekistan hosts a branch of China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, and a joint International Mathematics Center has been established in Urgench with Peking University. Additionally, Uzbekistan is adopting China’s Luban Workshop vocational training model. Cross-cultural Weeks of Art and Culture are scheduled to take place in both countries next year.
The leaders also addressed regional issues, stressing the need to maintain coordination and mutual support in the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Central Asia–China format, and other international platforms.
