President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev has been carrying out official state visit to Peoples]’s Republic of China. On May 12th he meet with Chairman of PRC XI Jinping, premier Li Keqiang and other officials.

This visit takes place while this year, year 2017, the two countries mark 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China.

During the meeting on May 12th, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for expanding cooperation with Uzbekistan to achieve new progress in carrying out the Belt and Road Initiative.

Head of China said that over the 25 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have achieved “leapfrog development” and the two countries have forged a comprehensive strategic partnership with sincerity, mutual trust, mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

Trade between the two countries reached 4.2 bn dollars last year and more than 700 Chinese companies were present in Uzbek market. Chinese companies invested into Uzbek market over 7.8 bn dollars of investments.

The two countries have cooperated closely under the Belt and Road framework and implemented a series of major projects, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries, Xi said.

He called for continued mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, consolidating and deepening political and strategic mutual trust for common development and prosperity.

Chinese President said the Beijing is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with Uzbekistan on issues including international affairs, situation in Central Asia and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

He urged the two countries to dovetail their development strategies, outline priorities for cooperation, explore potential to enhance economic and trade cooperation, boost bilateral trade, optimize trade structure, and ensure the long-term and stable growth of bilateral trade.

China would also like to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan on industrial capacity, investment as well as the building of industrial zones and infrastructure based on equality, mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

Calling China a great neighbor of Uzbekistan,  President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev said that appreciates China’s support for the country in taking a development path in line with its national conditions.

He said China’s role in promoting world peace, stability and development is crucial.

He noted Uzbekistan will continue adhering to the one-China policy and support China’s efforts in combating the “three evil forces” of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Leader of Uzbekistan also called for deepening cooperation with China in areas including economy and trade, investment, industrial capacity,infrastructure and water conservation.

After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint declaration to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two countries will continue to support each other on issues of core interests including national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, according to the declaration.

Neither side will allow a third country, any organization or group to commit activities on its soil that will damage the other side’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

In the joint declaration, the two sides agreed on the necessity of constructing an efficient and convenient railway passage between China and Uzbekistan, and they will step up coordination on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

After the meeting of the heads of the two states, a ceremony of signing the documents was conducted with the participation of the official delegations.

During the talks it was noted that rising the mutually beneficial cooperation to a new stage, the commonality or similarity of the positions of the two states on the issues of regional and international character are of great significance.

Leaders of two countries and signed a Joint Declaration between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Chinese People’s Republic. A number of important documents were also signed, such as intergovernmental agreements on technical cooperation, international road transport, the exchange of intergovernmental notes on the financing of projects to improve the quality of education in secondary schools, equipping the healthcare sector with modern medical equipment, and the Memorandum of Understanding in veterinary and quarantine inspections plants, a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between small businesses and private entrepreneurship, plan of cooperation in the inter-agency exchange in the field of agriculture in 2018-2020 years.

It was especially noted that the reached agreements will serve the further advancement of Uzbek-Chinese relations and the welfare of the two peoples.

As many experts believe, China-Uzbekistan cooperation has a great potential. The southern branch of land of railways and highways corridor of “One belt, One Road” initiative should pass through Uzbekistan along the road China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Iran. On September 2016, 8th longest in the world mountain railways tunnel through Kamchik pass connecting Ferghana valley and rest of Uzbekistan was commissioned. It was build by Chinese company and is considered as a logical part of the railways corridor from China to Iran and Middle East.

It is necessary to note that PRC considers Uzbekistan as a key and central state of Central Asian region. With its population of more than 32 mln., today in Uzbekistan live almost as many people as in all neighboring bordering countries of CA combined. It has most promising consumer market and relatively developed infrastructure.

In that terms, and also in developing mutually beneficial cooperation, Uzbekistan’s interecation with China, to some extend resemble of that of Malaysia. Dato’ Seri Najib Razak, since 2009, had carried out 9 visits to PRC and our bilateral trade trade today stands at over 211 bn RM. During current visit of Prime Minister of Malaysia to China from May 12 to May 17, yesterday  Nine business agreements were signed here on Sunday between Malaysian and Chinese companies with proposed investments estimated at US$7.22 billion (about RM31.3 billion).

As it was announced during the “Belt-Road Forum” on May 14th, expected 2 trln. dollar commodity exchange and trade will benefit every of 29 states, that are participating in stipulated by the Initiative many projects.

Teoh Dixon, Kuala Lumpur, May 14th 2017.