Uzbekistan-China: Expanding the Horizons of Comprehensive Cooperation乌兹别克斯坦-中国：扩大全面合作的视野

⬆ President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, May 18, 2023, Xi’an

Historical Ties Between Uzbekistan And China

Trade and diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China originated a long time ago. The fact of establishing diplomatic relations with states on the territory of modern Uzbekistan is mentioned in ancient chronicles about the arrival of the ambassador of the Western Han Empire (206 BC – 25 AD) Zhang Qian in Fergana (Davan) in the second half of the II century BC.

Several millennia before that, goods from Central Asia were delivered to China, mainly silk fabrics were transported back. Many foreign traders settled in China, including Sogdians, and some were recruited to serve in the local administration. A number of archaeological finds in Dunhuang indicate that in ancient times natives of Ferghana, Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent lived there.

Among the famous Chinese statesmen is Umar Kamaliddin Sayyid Shamsiddin, a native of Bukhara, referred to in Chinese sources as Saydianchi Shansidin.

He held high positions at the court of the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1367) and made a significant contribution to the streamlining of China’s financial and monetary systems, was governor of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where he paid great attention to the development of the economy, irrigation systems, the construction of roads, bridges and schools, reducing the tax burden of peasants, and free treatment of the poor.

In the XIII century, scientists, mathematicians, astronomers and healers were invited from Central Asia, who made a significant contribution to Chinese culture. The most famous were Jamaliddin Bukhori, Kamoliddin, Muhammad Bukhori, Haidar, Abdullah, Ali and Yusuf.

Jamaliddin Bukhori created the Muslim calendar for China and a geographical work on Central and East Asia, and Kamoliddin compiled the official calendar of senior officials and led the observatory.

Medical scientists from Central Asia brought to China practical knowledge and works by famous authors, including Abu Ali ibn Sino, such as the Canon of Medical Science.

The greatest intensification of trade and diplomatic relations was observed during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China and the state of Amir Temur. At that time, a large number of immigrants from Central Asia moved to China, including from the territory of Uzbekistan, among whom were famous statesmen, scientists, astronomers, mathematicians, healers, muddaris.

Salars, whose ancestors migrated from the Samarkand region at the end of the XIV century, live in the Xiunhua Autonomous County of Qinghai Province. In 1954, they were recognized as a separate nationality in China. They keep the handwritten Quran from Samarkand sacred.

⬆ Independence Monument in“New Uzbekistan”Park in Tashkent

Modern Relations

January 2 marked the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the People’s Republic of China. Friendly relations between our two countries are developing dynamically, based on mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests. Relations between our countries have evolved to a comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era, which entered into force in 2022.

Since 1991, 23 summits of the leaders of the two countries have been held. Chinese General Secretary Jiang Zemin visited Uzbekistan in 1996, General Secretary Hu Jintao in 2004 and 2010, and General Secretary Xi Jinping in 2013, 2016 and 2022.

In turn, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.Mirziyoyev visited China on a state visit in 2017, took part in the second International Forum “One Belt, One Road” in Beijing in 2019, in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022, in the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in the BRICS Plus format in 2022, visited China on a state visit and to participate in the first Central Asia-China Summit in May 2023, and on a working visit to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum in October 2023.

Fruitful contacts at the highest level contribute to the rapid expansion of trade, economic and investment relations, and the development of industrial cooperation.

Thanks to this, the volume of bilateral trade turnover has increased two and a half times over the past 6 years from $5 billion in 2017 to $12.2 billion in 11 months of 2023.

Friendly relations between Uzbekistan and China, which is one of the twenty developed countries in the world, setting the pace for economic and political progress, are of great importance. The PRC has consistently maintained the position that Uzbekistan is a leading state in the heart of Central Asia. It has been emphasized more than once that under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Uzbek people have begun their long journey towards building a new Uzbekistan. The country has completely transformed, living conditions have improved, and its position in the international arena has significantly strengthened.

The country is taking an increasingly leading position in key areas of economic development.

⬆ Kamchik railway Tunnel of the Republic of Uzbekistan

⬆ Buses supplied to Uzbekistan by China

Trade And Economic Cooperation

Today, China is undoubtedly one of Uzbekistan’s largest trading partners. By the end of 2023, the trade turnover increased by 46.8% and reached a record $12.2 billion.

The scale of cooperation in the investment sector has increased significantly. The total volume of disbursed Chinese investments has increased 5 times since 2017 and amounted to more than $14 billion. The level of trust of Chinese business circles in Uzbekistan is growing. A striking example is that during the Uzbek-Chinese business forum and fair held in Xi’an on May 18-19, 210 investment agreements and trade contracts totaling $26.5 billion were signed.

Only in 2023, $3.7 billion of Chinese investments have been disbursed. The number of joint ventures in Uzbekistan has increased 3 times compared to 2017. Today there are 2,125 enterprises operating in the country with the participation of Chinese investments, including 601 created in January-November 2023.

With the participation of Chinese companies, modern enterprises have been built in the country, major projects have been implemented in the oil and gas, chemical, textile and other industries, and new jobs have been created. Last year, with the participation of Chinese companies, more than 60 projects worth about $2 billion were successfully launched.

In particular, construction of the first stage of two solar stations with a total capacity of 1,000 MW has been completed in the Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions by the China Gezhouba Group.

Gansu Hengya Cement and Conch International Holdings have established cement plants in the Samarkand and Andijan regions with a capacity of 3 million tons of products per year.
Also, together with Shandun Electrik Power Construction, projects for the construction of photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of 1,000 MW are being implemented in Kashkadarya and Bukhara regions.

BYD, the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, has begun construction of its plant in Uzbekistan. The total cost of the project is estimated at $160 million.

The Shandong Golkorn company is working on the development of the Surenota iron deposit in the Tashkent region.

The implementation of projects is supported by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The total portfolio of loans provided to Uzbekistan through the Eximbank of the People’s Republic of China, the State Development Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China exceeds $6.9 billion.

Due to concessional financing of financial institutions in China, a project was implemented to supply 1,000 buses, including 300 electric buses.

Relations between the regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the People’s Republic of China are developing with great strides.

In 2023, Uzbekistan was visited by delegations led by the first leaders of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shaanxi, Shandong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Anhui, Ningxia Hui and Xi’an provinces, as well as over 400 businessmen.

In August-December 2023, the khokims of Navoi, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Ferghana, Tashkent and Samarkand regions and the Chairman of the Zhokary Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan organized trips to China, and 16 business forums were held in Beijing, Harbin, Urumqi, Hefei, Hohhuto, Chongqing, Zhangzhou, Wuhu, Xiamen, and Jibo.

On January 25, Shenzhen will host an event aimed at expanding and strengthening cooperation between the countries – the Uzbek-Chinese investment forum. More than 500 representatives of the business community, heads of relevant ministries and departments of the two countries are expected to participate in it. Panel sessions will be held on issues relevant to the development of bilateral cooperation, negotiations in the B2B and G2B format, during which agreements are expected to be concluded for a record amount for similar Uzbek-Chinese events.

Both countries are determined to expand cooperation in all areas. Chinese President Xi Jinping in his article on his visit to Uzbekistan in September 2022 noted that “the two-thousand-year history of friendly exchanges and 30-year practice of mutually beneficial cooperation show that strengthening comprehensive cooperation meets the trends of the time and the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples. Standing at the crossroads of the past and the future, we are full of expectations and confidence in the future of Sino-Uzbek relations.”

The growth dynamics of trade, economic and investment relations, inter-regional cooperation between the two states indicate high trust at all levels, readiness to expand mutually beneficial cooperation to a qualitatively new level.

The initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to transform the Syrdarya region into a “zone of advanced innovations” based on Chinese experience and technology is under successful implementation. Two Chinese experts have been involved as advisers to the regional Governor on the development of industrial zones and agriculture.

乌兹别克斯坦与中国的历史渊源

乌兹别克斯坦与中国的贸易和外交关系源远流长。公元前二世纪下半叶，西汉帝国（公元前206年到公元25年）使者张骞抵达费尔干纳（大宛国），在古代编年史中提到了与在现代乌兹别克斯坦领土上的国家建立外交关系的史实。

在此之前的几千年，中亚的货物被运到中国，主要是丝织品被运回。许多外国商人在中国定居，其中包括粟特人，有些人还被招募到当地的行政机构工作。敦煌的一些考古发现表明，古代费尔干纳、撒马尔罕、布哈拉和塔什干的当地人曾在此居住。

在中国著名的政治家中，有一位是布哈拉人乌马尔·卡玛里丁·赛义德·沙姆西丁，中国的资料称他为赛典赤·赡思丁。

他在元朝（1280～1367年）的宫廷中担任要职，为理顺中国的财政和货币体系做出了重大贡献，曾任陕西、四川和云南三省的平章政事，对发展经济、灌溉系统、修建道路、桥梁和学校、减轻农民税负以及免费治疗穷人给予了极大关注。

十三世纪，从中亚请来了科学家、数学家、天文学家和医学家，他们为中国文化做出了重大贡献。其中最有名的是扎马鲁丁·布霍里、卡莫利丁、穆罕默德·布霍里、海达尔、阿卜杜拉、阿里和优素福。

扎马鲁丁为中国创造了回回历，并撰写了中亚和东亚地理著作；卡莫利丁为高级官员编纂了官方历法，并领导了天文台。

中亚的医学家为中国带来了实用知识和阿布·阿里·伊本·西纳等名家的著作，如《医典》。

贸易和外交关系最密切的时期是中国的蒙元王朝和阿米尔·铁木尔国时期。当时，大量中亚移民迁入中国，包括从乌兹别克斯坦境内迁入的移民，其中有著名的政治家、科学家、天文学家、数学家、医学家和泥瓦匠。

撒拉族的祖先于十四世纪末从撒马尔罕地区迁徙到青海省循化撒拉族自治县。1954年，他们被中国承认为一个单独的民族。撒拉族将撒马尔罕的手抄古兰经奉为圣物。

⬆ 撒马尔罕丝路上的永恒之城

现代关系

1月2日是乌兹别克斯坦共和国与中华人民共和国建交32 周年。我们两国的友好关系在相互尊重和考虑彼此利益的基础上蓬勃发展。两国关系于2022年发展成为新时期的全面战略伙伴关系。

自1991年以来，两国领导人共举行了23次峰会。中国总书记江泽民在1996年访问乌兹别克斯坦，胡锦涛总书记于2004年和2010年分别访问乌兹别克斯坦，习近平总书记于2013年、2016年和2022年访问乌兹别克斯坦。

乌兹别克斯坦共和国总统米尔济约耶夫则于2017年对中国进行了国事访问，2019年参加了在北京举行的第二届 “一带一路”国际高峰论坛，2022年参加了北京冬奥会开幕式，2022年参加了 “金砖+”形式的全球发展高级别对话，2023年5月对中国进行了国事访问并参加了首届中亚—中国峰会，2023年10月对中国进行了工作访问并参加了第三届“一带一路 ”国际合作高峰论坛。

富有成果的最高级别接触促进了贸易、经济和投资关系的迅速扩大以及工业合作的发展。

得益于此，双边贸易额在过去6年中增长了2.5倍，从2017年的50亿美元增至2023年11个月的122亿美元。

中国是世界二十个发达国家之一，引领着经济和政治进步的步伐，乌兹别克斯坦与中国的友好关系具有重要意义。中华人民共和国一贯认为，乌兹别克斯坦是中亚中心地带的重要国家。我们不止一次地强调，在沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫总统的领导下，乌兹别克人民开始了建设新乌兹别克斯坦的漫长征程。国家发生了翻天覆地的变化，生活条件得到改善，在国际舞台上的地位显著提高。

国家在经济发展的关键领域日益处于领先地位。

贸易与经济合作

今天，中国无疑是乌兹别克斯坦最大的贸易伙伴之一。截至2023年底，双边贸易额增长了46.8%，达到创纪录的122亿美元。

投资领域的合作规模显著扩大。自2017年以来，中国对乌投资总额增长了5倍，超过140亿美元。中国商界对乌兹别克斯坦的信任度不断提高。一个突出的例子是，5月18日至19日在西安举行的乌中经贸论坛和洽谈会期间，双方签署了210项投资协议和贸易合同，总额达265亿美元。

仅在2023年，中国投资就已到位37亿美元。与2017年相比，乌兹别克斯坦的合资企业数量增加了3倍。目前，乌兹别克斯坦有2125家中国投资企业，其中601家是2023年1月到11月成立的。

在中国企业的参与下，国内建成了现代化企业，实施了石油天然气、化工、纺织等行业的重大项目，创造了新的就业岗位。去年，成功启动了60多个有中国企业参与的项目，价值约20亿美元。

其中，中国能建葛洲坝国际公司已在布哈拉州和卡什卡达里亚州完成了两个太阳能发电站的第一期工程建设，总发电量达1000兆瓦。

甘肃恒亚水泥和海螺国际控股公司在撒马尔罕州和安集延州建立了水泥厂，年生产能力达300万吨。

此外，还与山东电力建设公司合作，在卡什卡达里亚州和布哈拉州实施了总发电量达1000兆瓦的光伏电站建设项目。

最大的电动汽车制造商比亚迪已开始在乌兹别克斯坦建设工厂。项目总成本预计为1.6亿美元。

山东黄金矿业股份有限公司正在与塔什干州探讨开发苏列诺塔铁矿。

项目的实施得到了中华人民共和国政府的支持。通过中国进出口银行、中国国家开发银行和中国工商银行向乌兹别克斯坦提供的贷款总额超过69亿美元。

由于中国金融机构的优惠融资，实施了供应1000辆公共汽车，包括300辆电动公共汽车的项目。

乌兹别克斯坦共和国各州与中华人民共和国地方之间的关系正在大步向前发展。2023年，新疆维吾尔自治区、陕西省、山东省、江苏省、江西省、安徽省、宁夏回族自治区和西安市主要领导人率领的代表团以及400多名商人访问了乌兹别克斯坦。

2023年8月～12月，纳沃伊州、卡什卡达里亚州、苏尔汉河州、费尔干纳州、塔什干州和撒马尔罕州的州长和卡拉卡尔帕克斯坦共和国卓卡里克内斯（最高立法机构）主席相继访华，在北京、哈尔滨、乌鲁木齐、合肥、呼和浩特、重庆、漳州、芜湖、厦门、淄博等地举办了16场商务论坛。

1月25日，深圳将举办旨在扩大和加强两国合作的活动——乌兹别克斯坦-中国投资论坛。预计将有 500 多名商界代表、两国相关部委负责人参加。论坛将就双边合作发展、B2B 和 G2B 形式的谈判等相关问题举行小组会议，预计将达成创乌兹别克斯特-中国同类活动纪录的协议。

两国决心扩大各领域合作。中国国家主席习近平在2022年9月访问乌兹别克斯坦的文章中指出：“两千年的友好交往历史和三十年的互利合作实践表明，加强全面合作顺应时代潮流，符合两国和两国人民根本利益。站在过去与未来的十字路口，我们对中乌关系的未来充满期待和信心”。

两国贸易、经济和投资关系以及地区间合作的增长态势表明，双方在各个层面都高度信任，并愿意将互利合作拓展到一个新的高度。

乌兹别克斯坦共和国总统提出的以中国经验和技术为基础将锡尔河州改造成 “先进创新区 ”的倡议正在顺利实施。两名中国专家作为州长顾问参与了工业区和农业的发展。