Uzbekistan and China plan to raise mutual trade from $14 bln to $20 bln

TASHKENT. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Premier of China's State Council Li Qiang discussed steps to further expand the two countries' multifaceted cooperation, primarily on trade and economic issues, at their meeting in Beijing, the Uzbek leader's press service said on Wednesday.

"The parties discussed the drafting of individual programs of cooperation on upgrading infrastructure, broadening industrial cooperation, the transfer of agricultural technologies, and green energy development," the press service said.

Uzbek-Chinese trade increased 50% to $14 billion in 2023, it said.

"They noted the potential for raising this figure to $20 billion, including through enhancing mutual deliveries of high-quality agricultural and industrial goods. The total volume of Chinese investment in the Uzbek economy has topped $14 billion," the press service said.

Mirziyoyev and Li also discussed the prospects for promoting cooperation with leading Chinese banking and financial institutions and Chinese companies' participation in privatization processes in Uzbekistan.

The parties positively assessed the first Uzbek-Chinese regional forum and an industrial exhibition in the city of Urumqi on January 22, and noted the success of an ongoing educational forum and the Days of Uzbek Culture in China.

Mirziyoyev invited the Chinese prime minister to visit Uzbekistan, the press service said.

Mirziyoyev is paying a state visit to China on January 23-25. The agenda of his talks in Beijing includes steps to further bolster Uzbek-Chinese relations and their comprehensive strategic partnership, and to expand full-scale practical cooperation between the two countries.