Cooperation between Uzbekistan and China is based on mutual respect, support, friendship, and good neighborliness. An essential factor for this is high-level political meetings and friendly and trusting relations between the two countries’ leaders. The next visit of the President of Uzbekistan to the People’s Republic of China will mark the beginning of a new stage in further strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
As part of the state visit, which will take place on January 23-25, 2024, at the invitation of the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, high-level talks and several bilateral meetings are planned in Beijing. The agenda will also include further strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership and enhancing large-scale practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.
The conversation between the correspondent of Uzbekistan National News Agency – UzA and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Uzbekistan Yu Jun was devoted to cooperation between the two countries, which is consistently developing and the upcoming state visit.
– In what areas has cooperation between the two countries consistently developed in recent years? In what other areas do you think collaboration can be developed?
– As people say, friendship is more valuable than gold. In this sense, Uzbekistan is a good neighbor, a close partner, and a friendly country for us. In recent years, thanks to the initiative of the leaders of the two countries, cooperation and strategic partnership between China and Uzbekistan have been developing at a high level. The parties support each other on key issues. The experience of the two countries in deepening reforms and openness is studied.
It is noteworthy that close ties have been established between the leaders of the two countries. President Xi Jinping and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met twice last year, and a new plan for developing bilateral relations was developed. The activities of the Uzbekistan – China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee also play an essential role. It is noteworthy that mutual delegation visits are increasing. In 2023, the heads of 14 regions of your country visited China, and more than 20 Chinese delegations from the central and regional levels visited Uzbekistan.
Pragmatic cooperation between our countries has yielded the expected results. The Belt and Road Initiative is deeply consonant with building New Uzbekistan, and mutual trade has risen to a high level. Over the 11 months of last year, this figure reached $12.2 billion. The number of Chinese companies in Uzbekistan has exceeded 2 thousand. At the same time, strong interaction dynamics are observed in infrastructure construction, manufacturing, modern agriculture, communications, and other areas.
It should be noted that the results of cooperation in new energy are excellent. Vital projects are being successfully implemented with the participation of Chinese investments. These include the construction of a new power plant with a capacity of 1,500 MW in Syrdarya region and wind and solar power plants in Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions.
We have also established close cooperation in new energy and electric vehicles. According to statistics, 90 percent of electric cars in Uzbekistan are imported from China. My Uzbek friends also use cars from Chinese brands BYD, Chery, and Great Wall. They positively answered when I asked about their impressions of driving these electric vehicles. This fills me with a sense of pride.
Last year, many cultural exchange projects were implemented between our countries. In particular, as part of the Chinese Culture Day, the play “Xinjiang is a Nice Place” was shown, and large dance groups toured Xinjiang and Gansu. Unique cultural monuments of Uzbekistan were exhibited in museums in Hangzhou and Beijing. In the coming days, several events will be held in China as part of the Uzbekistan Culture Day. Happy Spring Festival will be held in Tashkent and Samarkand on February 4-6 this year. We invite our friends from Uzbekistan to these events.
In general, the partnership between China and Uzbekistan covers all areas. We consider the main thing to be the constant strengthening and implementation of the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries.
Thanks to joint efforts, a solid foundation has been created that covers almost all areas of interstate relations. The Program for the Development of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a New Era between the two countries for 2023-2027 and the Program for the Development of Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation between China and Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 are being implemented.
– How do you assess the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan?
– In recent years, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, activity on building New Uzbekistan has been carried out on an unprecedented scale. Reforms in politics, economics, and others are yielding the expected results. The President notes that the people’s interests come first and pays excellent attention to listening to their demands. The efficiency of administrative-territorial administration and the improvement of the local government system continue to be improved.
The dynamics of economic development in Uzbekistan are high, and the market’s viability is constantly in the spotlight. The business environment is being optimized, infrastructure construction is gradually improving, and more and more foreign companies are being attracted to invest in Uzbekistan. As a result, the population’s well-being increases, people feel happy, and society becomes stable and peaceful.
It should also be noted that friendly relations and cooperation with other countries are actively developing, and several major international events are being successfully held. This significantly strengthens the international authority and influence of the state and makes an incomparable contribution to deepening good neighborly and friendly relations.
China is sincerely satisfied with Uzbekistan’s progress as a good neighbor and partner. I think that the strong political will of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will accelerate the development of New Uzbekistan, and very soon, the dream of the Uzbekistan people will come true.
– Mr. Ambassador, what new projects do you plan to work on during your diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan?
– Six months have passed since I started my work in Uzbekistan. My activities were supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, for which I express my deep gratitude to them. I visited different places during this period, participated in many prestigious events, and made new friends. The sincerity and hospitality of the Uzbekistan people and the strong desire of society to deepen cooperation between Uzbekistan and China made a positive impression on me.
I believe cooperation between our countries has a bright future and great potential. I am entrusted with enormous responsibility for developing and deepening bilateral relations.
During my diplomatic mission, I will contribute to creating conditions for cooperation in various fields with my colleagues from Uzbekistan, conscientiously implementing the important agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries. In particular, in practical cooperation, we strive to achieve a new volume of mutual trade – $20 billion.
We will work to promote priority investment projects. We want to strengthen ties between enterprises and agencies and develop more mutually beneficial projects in processing and production, the digital economy, healthcare, modern agriculture, etc. We strive to maintain the positive dynamics of cooperation in solar, wind energy, and hydropower. We will deepen interaction in environmental management and protection, water conservation, and the use of green technologies to promote economic growth.
We will assist in constructing the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan road. We will increase cross-border transport efficiency and explore cooperation opportunities in constructing transport infrastructure. We intend to mobilize regional resources, develop connections between regions, and expand the exchange of information in public administration and poverty reduction. In short, our cooperation has a solid foundation, scope, and perspective. Both sides have a lot to do, and joint efforts are essential in this regard.
– What do you think about the initiatives and proposals put forward by Uzbekistan within the framework of the Belt and Road project? How important are these initiatives in relations between Uzbekistan and China?
– President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited China in October last year to participate in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Head of your state participated in the forum’s opening ceremony and was the first to speak on green development issues. He raised Central Asia’s serious climate change challenges, supported the Green Silk Road initiative, and called for international cooperation.
As we know, under the leadership of the President, Uzbekistan is actively promoting the Green Space initiative, including environmental issues in the essential national development and reform agenda. The development of new energy is helping to transform the green economy. Many of the President’s initiatives reflect the pursuit of sustainable development and a sense of responsibility for the common cause of all humanity, which China highly values.
These initiatives are entirely in line with China’s vision and initiatives. In the future, the Chinese side is ready to cooperate with the Uzbek side to increase attention to green development and strive for sustainable development.
– Let’s touch on the investment cooperation issue, which interests many. Which sectors of Uzbekistan are most attractive to Chinese businesspeople? What do you think we should focus on to attract more Chinese investors?
– Investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and China is rapidly developing and diversifying in various directions. According to statistics, in 2023, China became Uzbekistan’s leading investment partner, and the total investment volume exceeded $11 billion.
To date, many vital projects have been successfully implemented and are being implemented. Infrastructure projects, projects in the chemical industry, energy, water management, transport, communications, and other areas are among them. In addition, China is actively implementing charitable projects for people’s welfare, healthcare, and education. Currently, both sides are focused on cooperation in new energy and mineral resources, digital economy, green development, ecology, medicine, and healthcare. It should be noted that the China Silk Road Fund has decided to invest 5 billion yuan in creating the China – Uzbekistan Investment Fund.
According to Chinese investors, life is in full swing in Uzbekistan. It has the best business environment among Central Asian countries. This makes the country favorable for investment and doing business. In addition to large-scale projects implemented by state-owned enterprises, Chinese private enterprises operating in manufacturing building materials, textiles, and deep processing of agricultural products are showing great interest in cooperation with Uzbekistan.
Currently, a project to build New Tashkent is being implemented in Uzbekistan. China has rich experience in urban planning. Chinese companies hope to participate in this process actively and intend to contribute to creating a clean and beautiful modern city park.
Moreover, China has extensive experience in building infrastructure, including high-speed rail. There is a good reason that the Chinese people often say: “If we want to get rich, we must first build roads”. I think China and Uzbekistan can implement more projects to construct high-speed railways and highways, and opening national currency exchanges and bank branches can further strengthen financial cooperation between the two countries. Uzbekistan is rich in mineral resources, and collaboration can be expanded in this direction.
– Would you please tell us about cooperation between our countries in education and what new projects are expected in this regard?
– Both China and Uzbekistan attach great importance to education. Uzbekistan considers this area one of the priority areas of the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan. Thanks to the great attention of the leaders of the two countries, cooperation between China and Uzbekistan in education is consistently developing.
Educational exchange is expanding. Currently, almost 5 thousand Uzbekistan students are studying in China. Every year, China provides about 100 government scholarships to Uzbekistan to study abroad and many inter-university scholarship programs. It sends Chinese language teachers to Uzbekistan and supports opening Chinese language courses. At the same time, close cooperation has been established between the universities of the two countries.
– Since last year, exchanges and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Xinjiang have shown positive dynamics. What potential do you see in this? Some Western countries view Xinjiang negatively. How would you comment on this?
– Xinjiang has a vast territory, rich products, and many ethnic groups. Currently, thanks to the joint efforts of the people, Xinjiang’s economy is developing steadily, peace and stability reign in society, and the welfare of its residents is improving. Average annual per capita income increased by 9 percent. Entire villages were lifted from poverty, and more than 10 million people of different nationalities moved into new homes. Compulsory nine-year education coverage has been achieved, and health insurance participation rates have stabilized at over 95 percent. Last year, a free trade zone was established in Xinjiang. This further enhances openness and will promote high-quality economic development. It can be said that Xinjiang is experiencing the best period of prosperity and growth in history.
However, it is no secret that Xinjiang’s achievements are being misinterpreted by some Western media and anti-China politicians. But facts speak louder than words. The truth cannot be hidden. The issue of Xinjiang is never about human rights, nationality, or religion but is directed against violent terrorism, separatism, and radicalism. Xinjiang was once plagued by violence and terrorism, but today, it values its current prosperity and stability more.
More than 2,000 politicians, experts, religious leaders, and other representatives from many countries have visited Xinjiang in recent years. Nearly 100 countries have openly supported China at the meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and other multilateral human rights forums, demonstrating that justice always finds a place in the people’s hearts.
For many years, Uzbekistan has strongly supported China on issues related to Xinjiang. For this, the Chinese side expresses great gratitude. The peoples of this region and Uzbekistan have much in common in culture, geography, and language. Uzbekistan attaches great importance to cooperation with Xinjiang. Last year, Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang Ma Xingrui, Vice-Chairman of the Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as well as several delegations from Xinjiang visited Uzbekistan and held an exhibition of Xinjiang products and investments. Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Chairman of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Amanbay Orinbayev visited Xinjiang and reached several new agreements with the Chinese side. In their opinion, essential areas of cooperation are wind energy, deep processing of minerals, environmental protection, culture, education, and tourism. I am confident that China and Uzbekistan will soon hold important events in Xinjiang, opening up new cooperation opportunities.
– What are your impressions of Uzbekistan?
– Before becoming an Ambassador, I was on a business trip to Samarkand. Although it did not last long, Uzbekistan’s ancient history and fantastic culture left a lasting impression on me. Later, after becoming Ambassador to Uzbekistan, I got to know your country more deeply. Perhaps this is not a mere coincidence, but a gift of fate.
In Uzbekistan, history comes into contact with modernity. Eastern and Western cultures combine, this gives the country a unique charm. Here, picturesque nature, deserts, mountains, and oases complement each other. There is a brilliant civilization here. The buildings, ancient mosques, and temples do not interfere with each other. People are friendly. There is order in society. Melons and fruits are so tasty and aromatic that they melt in your mouth, and growing them is a real art.
At the same time, I can’t help but mention the Uzbek dish – pilaf. They say there are thousands of pilaf recipes in the country, and each region prepares them differently. While tasting Uzbek dishes, I felt the people’s hospitality, sincerity, and tolerance. I like everything about Uzbekistan, especially the sincere, kind, sympathetic, and generous people.
In conclusion, I would like to note that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This year is a year of opportunities and hopes. More effective results and new achievements are expected from the cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. The upcoming meeting of the leaders of Uzbekistan and China will lay a solid foundation for implementing important agreements between our countries, further strengthening friendship, cooperation, and harmony. Source: UzA
