Defense Ministers of Uzbekistan and China ink military cooperation plan for 2019

Today, on April 27, the Defense Minister of Uzbekistan Major-General Bahodir Kurbanov met with the military delegation of the People’s Republic of China headed by Colonel-General Wei Fenhe, member of the State Council, Minister of Defense of the PRC.

According to the defense ministry’s press service, at the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation in defense and military education, considered prospects for their development and exchanged views on strengthening mutually beneficial ties in the military-technical direction. The need to initiate regular visits of specialists to exchange experience in different areas was noted. 

During the meeting, the Defense Minister of Uzbekistan said that the state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to China in May 2017 opened a new page in relations between the two countries and became a historical stage in the development of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation.

“Objectively assessing the past years of fruitful bilateral cooperation, we can confidently say that China is a reliable, time-tested strategic partner with whom the relations of friendship, cooperation and mutual support have become progressive and irreversible,” head of the defense department of Uzbekistan said.

Major-General Bakhodir Kurbanov also noted that Uzbekistan is interested in further deepening bilateral relations with the PRC in terms of filling the joint partnership with concrete practical content that meets first of all the mutual interests of both countries.

“Starting from September 2019, at the initiative of the Chinese side, it is planned to organize intensive courses to study the Chinese language in the higher military educational institution of Uzbekistan,” the press service said.

Following the meeting, the parties signed a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2019.