China and Uzbekistan have committed to deepening their cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and trade, following Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Uzbekistan. During his two-day stay in Tashkent, Premier Li met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and held discussions with Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, resulting in several cooperation agreements.
A significant focus of these talks was the advancement of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which both nations see as a means to enhance regional connectivity and bolster economic development. Additionally, China expressed an interest in encouraging more Chinese businesses to invest in Uzbekistan, with Uzbekistan pledging to create a more favorable business environment to support these efforts.
The agreements signed between the two countries cover a wide range of areas, including trade, education, healthcare, customs, e-commerce, climate, media, and poverty reduction. Both nations agreed to expand their collaboration in energy, mineral resources, modern agriculture, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and environmental protection. Furthermore, China showed interest in importing more high-quality products from Uzbekistan, while Uzbekistan aimed to widen its access to the Chinese market.
China continues to be Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $16.1 billion last year, marking a 17.9 percent increase from the previous year. The leaders of both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political trust, enhancing investment, and fostering cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges.
Moreover, China and Uzbekistan pledged to improve coordination on regional and international matters and to further develop their strategic partnership. This visit underscores the growing ties between the two nations and their mutual interest in advancing cooperation across multiple sectors.