Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Xi Jinping agree on expanding economic and cultural cooperation

At the beginning of the meeting, Mirziyoyev expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese President for his firm support of irreversible reforms in Uzbekistan and his special attention to strengthening friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership relations between the countries.

The sides emphasized the significant achievements in all areas of bilateral cooperation in recent years.

It was particularly noted that the agreements reached during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to China in January this year are being consistently implemented.

Contacts at the level of governments, parliaments, foreign policy, and sectoral agencies have significantly intensified.

It is planned to hold the second meeting of the Strategic Dialogue of Foreign Ministers in Tashkent by the end of the year. In the near future, a high-level delegation from the Chinese Parliament is expected to visit Uzbekistan.

Trade-economic and investment cooperation is rapidly developing.

Last year, the trade turnover reached $14 billion. It was noted that in the near future, this figure could be increased to $20 billion.

The current portfolio of investment projects exceeds $50 billion. Since the beginning of this year, more than $3 billion in Chinese investment has been assimilated in Uzbekistan, and more than 500 new joint ventures have been established.

An agreement was reached to accelerate the adoption of strategic cooperation programs in infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, and "green" energy sectors.

It was noted with satisfaction that the Uzbekistan-China Technopark was recently launched in the Jizzakh region, and BYD electric vehicles began to be produced there for the first time in our region.

Cooperation with China's leading financial institutions is expanding. In particular, an investment platform has been created with the Silk Road Fund, and with the support of the China Exim Bank, the construction of the Olympic Village in Tashkent is being completed. The opening of a regional branch of this bank in Tashkent is expected.

The intensification of interregional exchanges was highly appreciated. Since the beginning of the year, leaders of all regions of our country have visited China several times, and delegations from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Shanghai provinces have been to Uzbekistan. Trade houses have been opened in Beijing, Urumqi, and several other cities.

It was decided to hold the second Regions Forum next year.

The president emphasized the practical cooperation of the Chinese President in the fight against poverty. A proposal was made to adopt a long-term program for experience exchange in this important area.

The importance of promptly starting practical work on the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is of strategic importance for strengthening transport connectivity and developing the region within the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, was highlighted.

Views were also exchanged on pressing regional and international issues. The Uzbek side reaffirmed its unwavering support for the "One China" policy and its position on combating the "three evil forces".

Close cooperation within the frameworks of the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the "Central Asia-China" format, and other international and regional structures will continue.

The head of state wished the Chinese leader great success during his chairmanship of the SCO.

The necessity of expanding cooperation in tourism, science, education, personnel training, and Chinese language learning was emphasized.

The Central Asian Confucius Institutes Forum will soon be held in Tashkent. Plans have been set to open branches of Chinese higher education institutions in our country and widely introduce China's professional education system, the "Lu Ban Workshop." A proposal was made to hold the second Education Forum next year.

Following the negotiations, President Mirziyoyev invited the Chinese President to visit Uzbekistan.