China News Service, January 23. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Uzbek President Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to China from January 23 to 25, 2024.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that at the beginning of the new year in 2024, President Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to China, which fully demonstrates the high level of China-Uzbekistan relations and the deep friendship between the two heads of state.
Mirziyoyev also stated in a signed article published in Chinese media on January 22 that this is his first overseas trip in 2024 and is of great significance.
“Every time I visit China, I will express my sincere admiration.”
Mirziyoyev has visited China several times and participated in international conferences since taking office in 2016, and regards the development of friendly relations between Ukraine and China as one of the important matters in the diplomatic field.
From May 11 to 15, 2017, Mirziyoyev paid his first state visit to China after taking office as President of Uzbekistan.
The heads of state of China and Uzbekistan unanimously agreed to carry forward the spirit of ever-lasting friendship between China and Uzbekistan, promote China-Uzbekistan relations to carry forward the past and open up the future, and better benefit the two peoples.
After the talks, the two heads of state signed the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan" and jointly witnessed the two countries' economic and technology, transportation, medical, agriculture, hydropower, small and medium-sized enterprises, infrastructure, tourism and local exchanges. Signing of bilateral cooperation documents.
In June 2018, April 2019, and February 2022, President Mirziyoyev visited China many times or participated in activities.
In 2023, President Mirziyoyev visited China twice.
On the afternoon of May 18, President Xi Jinping held talks in Xi'an with President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, who was in China to attend the China-Central Asia Summit and pay a state visit.
After the talks, the two heads of state signed the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan", adopted the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Development Plan for a New Era between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan (2023-2027)", and jointly witnessed the signing of priority investment There are a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of projects, poverty reduction, agricultural product trade, inspection and quarantine, and local cooperation.
On the afternoon of October 17, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, who was in China to attend the third "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum.
The two sides once again reached consensus on medium- and long-term cooperation plans for economic, trade and investment, cooperation in key areas, exchange of experience in poverty reduction, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Mirziyoyev wrote in the article that every time I visit China, I will express my sincere admiration, admiring the great achievements and profound influence of China's reform and development cause, and admiring the great Chinese people for comprehensively advancing the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization. Extraordinary creativity and hard work and wisdom displayed on the road to great rejuvenation.
“A key hub on the ancient Silk Road”
Uzbekistan is a "double landlocked country" located in the hinterland of Central Asia.
The country borders Kazakhstan to the north and northeast, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east and southeast, Turkmenistan to the west, and Afghanistan to the south.
With a land area of 448,900 square kilometers, the capital Tashkent is the largest city in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan has a long history and culture, with numerous cultural relics and historic sites. It is a key hub of the ancient Silk Road and a crossroads of various cultures.
There are detailed records in early literature. More than 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, the envoy of the Western Han Dynasty, went to the ancient country of Dawan in the Fergana Valley.
China's silk, paper, porcelain, tea and other products are transferred and circulated through Uzbekistan's ancient trading cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara, and are famous all over the world.
China, on the other hand, introduced fine horses, alfalfa, grape seeds, wine-making technology, and horticultural crop planting methods from the Fergana region.
"Uzbekistan" means "ruling oneself" and "oneself is one's own master" in Uzbekistan, which means "independence".
Uzbekistan is a multi-ethnic country.
As of July 2023, the country's population is approximately 36.37 million, with more than 130 ethnic groups, of which Uzbeks account for 80%.
Uzbekistanis eat a lot of cattle, sheep, horse meat and dairy products. They are especially fond of hand-made rice. It is the most important ethnic food in Uzbekistan. It is a must-have when celebrating festivals, weddings and entertaining distinguished guests. An indispensable delicacy.
The traditional national costumes of Ukraine are beautifully embroidered caps and colorful robes.
A handmade cap and a carefully sewn cotton robe are usually valuable gifts given by Uzbeks to important guests.
Uzbekistan is rich in resources, with total mineral resource reserves worth approximately US$3.5 trillion.
It is rich in the "four golds" - gold, "platinum" (cotton), "black gold" (petroleum), and "blue gold" (natural gas), which are the main pillar industries of its national economy.
Since 2017, the new Uzbek government, under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev, has worked hard to deepen domestic reforms, actively open to the outside world, vigorously attract investment, significantly improve the business environment, market vitality continues to burst, and development potential continues to be released. A country with rapid economic growth in Central Asia.
“China-Uzbekistan relations have developed by leaps and bounds”
China and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on January 2, 1992.
Relations between the two countries have developed smoothly, and a strategic partnership was established in 2012.
In 2013, the China-Ukraine Treaty of Friendly and Cooperation was signed.
A comprehensive strategic partnership was established in 2016.
In 2022, we announced the implementation of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level.
According to Mirziyoyev, economic and trade relations between China and Ukraine are booming.
In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between Ukraine and China will increase by 40% year-on-year, and China will become Ukraine's largest trading partner.
Investment cooperation between the two sides has shown a positive trend. Thanks to the improvement of Ukraine's business environment in recent years, China's investment in Ukraine has increased fourfold, and the number of Chinese-funded enterprises in Ukraine has tripled.
At the same time, cooperation between the two countries in culture, education, health, tourism, sports and other fields has also continued to expand.
China has two Confucius Institutes in Uzbekistan.
As of October 2023, China and Ukraine have established a total of 12 pairs of sister provinces, states and cities.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on January 19 that since China and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations 32 years ago, the two sides have always respected each other, been good-neighborly and friendly, worked together in times of trouble, and achieved mutual benefit and win-win results. It has not only promoted the development and revitalization of the two countries, but also injected positive energy into maintaining peace and stability in Central Asia and the world.
(over)