Uzbekistan and China agree to $30bn trade target
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined an ambitious framework to elevate bilateral trade to $30bn during talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
The leaders reviewed a surging economic partnership that saw mutual trade approach $18bn last year. With a joint investment portfolio now totalling $60bn and more than 6,000 Chinese-backed enterprises operating across Uzbekistan, both nations are pushing for further industrial integration.
Mirziyoyev and Xi identified strategic growth sectors including renewable energy, digital infrastructure, mineral processing and metallurgy. They highlighted the ongoing collaboration with Chinese automaker BYD to manufacture electric vehicles in Uzbekistan as a benchmark for future technological ventures, agreeing to expand local production capacities.
Infrastructure development also dominated the discussions. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Officials expect this transit corridor to become a cornerstone of the Eurasian transport network and reinforce the broader Belt and Road Initiative.
Advancing diplomatic and cultural integration
Uzbekistan actively encouraged Chinese financial institutions and corporations to increase their footprint by establishing manufacturing hubs within dedicated regional industrial zones. Energy cooperation remains a priority, with Mirziyoyev expressing interest in Chinese expertise for traditional power generation, renewable alternatives and civil nuclear projects.
Space exploration was similarly earmarked as an emerging frontier for mutual research.
On the diplomatic front, Mirziyoyev reiterated Tashkent’s strict adherence to the «One China» policy and shared security objectives. The meeting comes ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, prompting proposals for an extensive commemorative programme.
To foster closer societal bonds, the two governments plan to increase flight frequencies and leverage their existing visa-free regime to boost tourism. Educational exchanges are set to expand through the establishment of more Lu Ban Workshops and Confucius Institutes, alongside increased university quotas for Uzbek youth studying in China.
The bilateral dialogue concluded with Mirziyoyev formally inviting his counterpart to visit Uzbekistan, signalling a continued trajectory of high-level engagement leading into the third China-Central Asia summit scheduled for next year.
