Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the second Central Asia-China summit in Astana on June 17th, as reported by the presidential press service.
The summit, chaired by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, included participation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The agenda focused on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between Central Asian nations and China across priority sectors, as well as addressing pertinent international and regional issues.
President Mirziyoyev highlighted President Xi Jinping’s role in strengthening friendship and cooperation with Central Asian states, supporting the region’s sustainable development through concrete projects and programs.
Significant progress in Central Asia-China cooperation since the first summit in Xi’an in 2023 was noted. This includes the establishment of a secretariat, effective ministerial and expert meeting mechanisms, and a growing legal framework for comprehensive cooperation. Bilateral trade between Central Asia and China is projected to reach $100 billion this year.
“The development of cooperation in this format is facilitated, on the one hand, by the profound transformations within Central Asia itself, which has become a space of trust, good-neighborliness, and partnership. On the other hand, it is the unwavering commitment of the Chinese leadership to developing friendly relations with neighboring countries and promoting the global Belt and Road Initiative,” stated the Uzbek President.
President Mirziyoyev then outlined his vision for further regional cooperation, noting the current summit takes place against a backdrop of a deteriorating international situation.
Increased rivalry is exacerbating tensions and creating new challenges to security and sustainable development.
“We consider the use of force to resolve international disputes and conflicts to be unjustified and unacceptable,” President Mirziyoyev emphasized. “I am convinced that all disputes and disagreements must be resolved exclusively through diplomatic efforts – at the negotiating table, based on the principle of respecting sovereignty, the norms of international law, and the Charter of the United Nations.”
The adoption of a Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation during the summit was highlighted as historically significant for regional stability. He proposed developing a long-term partnership concept incorporating specific mechanisms and projects.
The President emphasized that trade, investment, and technological partnerships with China serve as a powerful engine for achieving the socio-economic development strategies of all Central Asian countries. He stated that combining the region’s growing potential with China’s industrial leadership could create a common space of vast opportunities, with effective mechanisms for knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
He proposed the swift adoption of a new economic partnership program and the establishment of an Interregional Council on Trade and Investment at the deputy prime minister level, offering to host the first meeting before the year’s end. To stimulate trade, he advocated for a multilateral trading platform, “Electronic Silk Road,” within the framework of the “Digital Belt and Road.”
He also suggested establishing a Regional Center for Industrial Standardization and Certification in Tashkent to harmonize regulations and standards, and to certify export products according to Chinese requirements, along with a roadmap for technology transfer involving businesses, research institutions, and engineering centers.
President Mirziyoyev stressed the need to strengthen industrial and infrastructural interconnectedness to unlock economic potential. He proposed a long-term strategy, “Industrial and Infrastructure Belt ‘Central Asia – China’,” creating interconnected industrial clusters, tech parks, and logistics hubs with Chinese investment and technological solutions.
He also highlighted the importance of aligning the energy systems of Central Asia and China, including the mega-project of constructing a high-voltage power line and the need for effective financial instruments to support large regional projects.
“Existing international mechanisms play an important role, but they do not fully cover the region’s investment needs. According to experts, the deficit of capital investments in infrastructure development in Central Asia amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars,” noted the Uzbek leader.
He proposed the establishment of a Central Asia-China Development Fund to promote infrastructure initiatives.
Another priority is developing transport links between Central Asia and China. The commencement of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway was cited as a key element of a new Eurasian transport and transit system, with the Trans-Afghan railway project opening further opportunities.
“To develop a common vision for the future in this strategic area, I believe it is necessary to instruct our transport agencies to form expert groups to conduct field studies, examine opportunities for modernizing logistics infrastructure, and implement pilot projects for transporting goods along alternative corridors,” suggested President Mirziyoyev.
These groups are expected to formulate proposals for a unified map of transport corridors and modern transit infrastructure by the next summit.
Addressing climate change challenges, he urged accelerating the adoption of a “green” development program until 2030 and establishing an Environmental Alliance for dialogue and partnership in combating desertification, restoring degraded lands, and improving bio-ecological resilience in arid and desert zones.
“I would like to separately dwell on the opportunities for cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. These areas are today’s drivers of long-term growth, determining the competitiveness of national economies,” noted the President.
To build a robust digital infrastructure for economic interaction, he proposed creating a network of mutually integrated big data banks and processing centers, and constructing a Central Asia-China digital fiber-optic line along major energy and transport routes.
“Our invaluable asset is the common desire to enrich our cultures and bring our peoples closer together. The Initiative to Facilitate Mutual Travel and the Program of Cultural and Humanitarian Events are aimed at these goals,” the president stated.
To further strengthen cooperation, he proposed a unified digital portal, “Cultural Heritage of the Silk Road,” showcasing the historical and cultural resources of Central Asia and China, accessible to researchers, students, tourists, and the creative industry.
He also suggested a joint scientific and educational platform through a cooperation program in vocational education, university rector forums, and meetings of heads of academies of sciences and research centers.
Security cooperation remains a key priority. The President advocated for multilateral information exchange mechanisms among special services and security councils to combat terrorism, extremism, radicalism, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and cybercrime.
“The international community’s dwindling attention to the problems of Afghanistan, which is not just a neighbor but an integral part of our common historical, cultural, and economic space, is a serious concern,” stated President Mirziyoyev.
Noting the rich experience of China and Central Asian states in interacting with Afghanistan, he proposed establishing a high-level group within the current format to consider assisting in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and integration into regional processes, suggesting a meeting in Termez with Afghan representatives.
Uzbekistan’s commitment to open dialogue and expanding pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation within the Central Asia-China framework was reiterated. The summit concluded with the signing of the Astana Declaration and the Treaty on Eternal Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation, along with several intergovernmental and inter-agency documents, and the launch of cooperation centers focused on poverty reduction, desertification, education, and unimpeded trade.