Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the second Central Asia-China summit

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the second Central Asia-China summit in Astana on June 17.

The event, chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

According to the agenda, the prospects for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and China in priority areas, as well as current international and regional issues, were considered.

At the beginning of his speech, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized the role of Chinese President Xi Jinping in strengthening friendship and cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, supporting the sustainable development of the region through the implementation of specific projects and programs.


– In our opinion, on the one hand, the deep transformation processes in Central Asia itself, which has become a place of trust, good neighborliness and partnership, and on the other hand, the firm commitment of the Chinese leadership to developing friendly relations with neighboring countries and promoting the global concept of the "Belt and Road", allow for the development of cooperation in this format, said the head of state.

Then the leader of Uzbekistan expressed his point of view on the further development of regional cooperation.

– We believe that the use of force to resolve conflicting international issues and conflicting problems is unjustified and unacceptable, said the president. - All disputes and contradictions must be resolved only through diplomatic efforts - at the negotiating table, based on respect for sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter.

As the leader of Uzbekistan noted, trade, investment and technological cooperation with China serves as a powerful locomotive in implementing the socio-economic development strategies of all countries of Central Asia.

The early adoption of a new economic partnership program and the establishment of an Interregional Council on Trade and Investment at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers will be a practical step in this direction. The Uzbek side expressed its readiness to hold the first meeting of the council by the end of this year.


In order to stimulate trade relations, the President of Uzbekistan put forward the initiative to establish a multilateral trade platform "Digital Silk Road" within the framework of the "Digital Space and Road".

It was also noted that it is necessary to establish a Regional Center for Standardization and Certification in Industry in Tashkent to approximate regulations and standards, and to certify export products based on Chinese requirements.

It was noted that the issue of introducing effective financial instruments capable of supporting large-scale projects of regional importance is of particular relevance.

- The international mechanisms currently in force undoubtedly play an important role, but cannot fully meet the region's investment needs. According to experts, the deficit of capital investments in the infrastructure development of Central Asia is estimated at several hundred billion dollars, the leader of Uzbekistan said.

In this regard, it was proposed to consider the possibility of establishing a "Central Asia-China" development fund, which could become an effective platform for promoting infrastructure initiatives.

The development of transport interconnection between Central Asia and China was noted as another priority.

It was noted that the start of the construction of the "China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan" railway is an important element of a new system of transport and transit communications in the Eurasian space. At the same time, the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway project opens the door to even greater opportunities.

– In order to develop common approaches to the prospects of this strategic sector, I believe that we need to instruct our transport agencies to conduct field research, study the possibilities of modernizing the logistics infrastructure, and form expert groups to implement pilot projects on transporting goods along alternative routes, said the leader of Uzbekistan.

Drawing attention to the serious threats of climate change to sustainable development, the Head of State called for accelerating the adoption of the “Green” development program until 2030, as well as the creation of an Ecological Alliance for dialogue and partnership in combating desertification, restoring degraded lands, and increasing bioecological sustainability in arid and desert regions.

– I would like to dwell separately on the opportunities for cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. It is these areas that today determine the competitiveness of national economies and are the drivers of long-term growth, the president said.

In order to form a stable digital infrastructure of economic cooperation, it was proposed to create a network of inter-integrated banks of large databases and processing centers, as well as to build a digital route of the “Central Asia - China” fiber-optic communication line along the main energy and transport routes.

– The common aspiration of our peoples to enrich each other's cultures and bring them closer is our invaluable wealth. The initiative to facilitate mutual visits and the Program of Cultural and Humanitarian Events adopted today are aimed at precisely these goals, the president said.

In order to further strengthen cooperation in this area, it was proposed to create a single digital portal "Silk Road Cultural Heritage", which would include the historical and cultural resources of the countries of Central Asia and China, and would include researchers, students, tourists and representatives of the creative industry.

It was also noted that it would be appropriate to develop a cooperation program in the field of professional education, form a common scientific and educational platform through forums of university rectors, meetings of heads of academies of sciences and research centers.

Cooperation in the field of security remains one of the main priorities. In this regard, our President stressed the importance of establishing multilateral information exchange mechanisms through special services and security councils in the fight against terrorism, extremism, radicalism, drug trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrime.

- We are seriously concerned about the decline in the international community's attention to the problems of Afghanistan, which is not only a neighbor, but also an integral part of our common historical, cultural and economic space, said the leader of Uzbekistan.

Noting the rich experience of China and Central Asian countries in cooperation with Afghanistan, the President of Uzbekistan proposed establishing a high-level group to consider issues of assisting the country's recovery and involving it in regional integration processes. The group's meeting was held in the city of Termez with the participation of Afghan representatives.

In conclusion, the Head of State stressed that Uzbekistan is committed to expanding open dialogue, pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation in the "Central Asia - China" format.

At the end of the meeting, the heads of state signed the Astana Declaration and the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

A significant set of intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents was also adopted.

The summit concluded with a ceremony to launch cooperation centers in poverty alleviation, desertification, education, and a platform for cooperation on barrier-free trade. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!