Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently visited Beijing, marking the first exchange between China and Central Asia this year. During his three-day visit, President Mirziyoyev held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders upgraded their countries’ relationship to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.
This elevation of ties reflects the deepening cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. Over the past two years, both nations have engaged in frequent high-level exchanges. In 2022, President Mirziyoyev visited China in February, and President Xi traveled to Uzbekistan in September for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand. Additionally, the Uzbek president participated in two visits to China last year, attending the first China-Central Asia summit in May and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October.
Trade between China and Uzbekistan has seen remarkable growth. According to China’s General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade reached 98.85 billion yuan (approximately $13.93 billion) last year, a 53.2 percent increase from the previous year. China’s exports to Uzbekistan surged by 76.8 percent year on year, highlighting the strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
Despite this significant progress, there remains vast potential for further cooperation, particularly in improving transport infrastructure. Currently, transporting goods by train from China to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan takes between 45 to 70 days. This lengthy transit time poses challenges for high-value or perishable goods, and air freight remains a costly alternative.
To address these challenges, China and Uzbekistan are discussing the construction of a new railway through Kyrgyzstan. This proposed route would significantly reduce the cost and time of cargo transportation, cutting transit times from weeks to just a few days. The improved connectivity is expected to promote trade relations and boost the economies of the countries involved.
Furthermore, once this railway section is completed, there are plans to extend it westward through Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, South Caucasian countries, and Türkiye, ultimately reaching Europe. This extension could shorten the distance from China to Türkiye by approximately 900 kilometers, enhancing the efficiency of the transcontinental transport corridor.
The proposed railway not only symbolizes the strengthening partnership between China and Uzbekistan but also represents a significant step toward greater regional integration in Central Asia. Improved infrastructure and connectivity are expected to foster economic development and promote closer ties among countries in the region.
As China and Uzbekistan embark on this new chapter of cooperation, the proposed railway through Kyrgyzstan holds the promise of transforming trade dynamics across Central Asia, bringing shared prosperity and stronger connections between East and West.
Reference(s):
China-Uzbekistan cooperation promotes closer ties across Central Asia
cgtn.com
