On the afternoon of January 24, 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state announced that China and Uzbekistan decided to develop an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the building of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point.
Xi Jinping pointed out that 32 years ago, Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian country to establish diplomatic relations with China. The two peoples have carried forward the spirit of the Silk Road, and the tree of the China-Uzbekistan friendship is deeply rooted, flourishing and vibrant. In particular, over the past seven years and more, the two sides have worked together to lead bilateral cooperation in various fields to a sound, thriving situation. Building a more meaningful and dynamic China-Uzbekistan relationship is the shared aspiration of the two peoples. The two sides should take the opportunity of developing an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, cement the foundation of the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future with high-level political mutual trust, and help advance their respective modernization with high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Xi Jinping stressed that the close relationship between China and Uzbekistan lies in the fact that the two sides have always treated each other with sincerity and mutual trust. The two countries should support each other even more steadfastly in the face of the current complex international situation. China firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and independently choosing its own development path. The two sides should make good use of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee and other platforms to strengthen strategic communication and comprehensively deepen strategic mutual trust. China and Uzbekistan share similar development goals and concepts. By actively synergizing China's eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the two sides should tap the potential of traditional cooperation, implement the medium and long-term cooperation plans for the economy, trade and investment, introduce more investment and trade facilitation measures, and expand cooperation on infrastructure and the construction of agricultural high-tech parks. China is ready to import more quality products from Uzbekistan. The two sides should begin the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project at an early date, advance physical connectivity and institutional connectivity simultaneously, and build a multidimensional connectivity network to help Uzbekistan transform from a landlocked country into a land-linked country. China is ready to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan across the entire new energy vehicle industrial chain and cooperate on major projects, including photovoltaic power, wind power and hydropower projects, to support Uzbekistan's green economic development strategy and promote sustainable development. The two sides also need to actively cooperate on poverty reduction, expand and deepen local cooperation, and build more projects to benefit their peoples. The two sides need to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, continue to hold cultural days and art festivals and accelerate the establishment of cultural centers in each other's countries, expand cooperation in Chinese language teaching, and support increased youth exchanges. China will provide more government scholarships for Uzbekistan's young people to study in China. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Uzbekistan to boost solidarity and cooperation among all parties, jointly maintain the correct direction of the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), conscientiously implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an, optimize and strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, promote global and regional governance, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, choosing China as the first country he has visited this year is of great symbolic significance. The Uzbek people and the Chinese people have enjoyed traditional friendship for thousands of years and bilateral relations have maintained a high level of development. Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, every time he visits China, he is always impressed by the glorious achievements China has made in reform and development. He attributes China's achievements to the dynamic leadership of President Xi Jinping. China has become a global powerhouse in many aspects, including economic development and innovation capability. He believes China will make greater achievements on its journey to realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. Uzbekistan is ready to learn from China's successful development experience and become a companion on the path to modernization for the benefit of the two peoples. Uzbekistan-China relations are based on deep political trust, mutual respect and mutual assistance. Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, he fully agrees with President Xi Jinping's views on further development of bilateral relations. He is glad to announce together with President Xi Jinping to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era. He looks forward to taking his visit as an opportunity to further consolidate and deepen mutual trust, expand comprehensive cooperation, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, achieve more results in practical cooperation in fields such as trade and economy, agriculture, clean energy, and tourism, and at the sub-national level, and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Uzbekistan firmly abides by the one-China principle, strictly opposes external interference in China's internal affairs, and stands ready to provide firm support for China on issues concerning China's core interests, including Taiwan, Xinjiang and human rights. Uzbekistan is ready to work with China to combat the three forces of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, to safeguard the security and stability of both countries and the region at large. Recently, the two countries held a sub-national cooperation forum, a hundred-university cooperation forum, a tourism promotion and Uzbek culture day, a poverty reduction forum and various other activities, many of which were held for the first time in Uzbekistan, which fully demonstrates the close friendship between the two peoples, as well as the fruitful results and huge potential of bilateral relations. Uzbekistan firmly supports a series of global cooperation initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to work with China to actively implement and promote these initiatives. The China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an last May was of historic significance in enhancing regional connectivity, development and prosperity. Uzbekistan is ready to work closely with China to establish the secretariat of the China-Central Asia Mechanism at an early date, promote the development and growth of the mechanism, and continue to strengthen communication and cooperation within the SCO and other multilateral frameworks. Shavkat Mirziyoyev said, he has full confidence in the future of Uzbekistan-China relations.
After the talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the All-Weather Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for a New Era. They also witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents in fields such as the Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative, economic and technological cooperation, connectivity, environmental protection, new energy, science and technology, culture, market access for agricultural products, and at the sub-national level.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his wife Ziroatkhon Mirziyoyeva at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
A 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square, and the guard of honor lined up in salutation. After the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Uzbekistan. Accompanied by President Xi Jinping, Shavkat Mirziyoyev then reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcoming banquet for Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his wife at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People in the evening.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
