Author's article by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping ahead of his state visit to Uzbekistan. “This land is suitable for growing cereals and will give birth to flowers and fruits in abundance.” More than 1300 years ago, the great scholar-monk Xuan Zang of the Tang Dynasty in his travel notes gave a sketch of a prosperous Samarkand. At the invitation of President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, I will again come to the beautiful city of Samarkand to outline a plan for Chinese-Uzbek cooperation with my colleague and participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China and Uzbekistan are ancient countries with great civilization. The Great Silk Road testifies to the friendly contacts of our peoples for over 2000 years. Zhang Qian of the Xihan Dynasty, Xuan Zang of the Tang Dynasty and Chen Cheng of the Ming Dynasty at one time reached Uzbekistan and visited Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi and other famous cities, leaving traces of historical ties. Seyid Ajal Shamsuddin, a native of Bukhara, was appointed governor of the Chinese province of Yunnan in the Yuan dynasty. A native of Samarkand, Wu Zhu took part in the construction of an observatory in China in the city of Nanjing in the middle of the 14th century. The peoples of our countries to this day keep a good memory of them - the pioneers and envoys of the Chinese-Uzbek friendship.
Uzbekistan is a major power in the heart of Central Asia. In the 31 years since independence, the country has achieved great results in state development and national revival. It should be especially noted that under the leadership of President Sh. M. Mirziyoyev, the Uzbek people began a great campaign towards the construction of a new Uzbekistan. Reform and development in various fields have entered a high-speed trajectory. The country has acquired a completely new look, decent living conditions have been created, and its position in the international arena has significantly strengthened. As a friendly neighbor and all-round strategic partner, we sincerely welcome your success.
The current year is marked by the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan. For 30 years, the multifaceted cooperation between our countries based on the principles of mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, mutual assistance and mutual benefit has germinated like seeds, began to grow vigorously and bear solid fruits.
The two countries are trusted friends. Since 2016, President Sh. M. Mirziyoyev and I have maintained close contacts through meetings, telephone conversations and exchange of correspondence. We have good working ties and deep personal friendships. Our states, in the spirit of a comprehensive strategic partnership, support each other on issues that affect key interests, help each other in promoting national development strategies, learn from each other's experience in expanding reforms and openness, bringing positive energy to the development of the region.
The two countries are reliable partners on the path of joint development. China is the largest trading partner of Uzbekistan and the main source of investment in its economy. The trade turnover between the two countries in 2021 exceeded 8 billion US dollars, and in the first half of this year - already somewhere around 5 billion dollars. Annual trade volume is steadily moving towards the goal of $10 billion. Cooperation is fruitful within the framework of the joint implementation of the One Belt, One Road initiative. Significant joint projects are systematically moving forward. All four lines of the China-Central Asia gas pipeline pass through the territory of Uzbekistan. The longest railway tunnel in Central Asia through the Kamchik pass was put into operation. The throughput potential of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan automobile corridor and the China-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan railway is being continuously developed. There have been positive developments in the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Uzbekistan is turning from a purely inland state into a communications hub in the region. In addition, the two countries are actively cooperating in the fields of new energy sources, agriculture, finance and modern telecommunications, which brings tangible benefits to our peoples.
The two countries set a worthy example of the development of intercivilizational dialogue. Various and interesting events are held jointly, including art festivals, gala concerts, exhibitions, seminars. There is vigorous cooperation in such areas as student exchange, translation and publication of literary works, cinematography, translation and display of television programs, interregional contacts and training, which effectively contributes to the rapprochement of our peoples. In recent years, China has trained more than 6,500 specialists of various profiles for Uzbekistan, who today are selflessly working for the cause of reform and development of the country. A whole galaxy of Sinologists came out of the Confucius Institutes in Tashkent and Samarkand, they are real messengers of Chinese-Uzbek friendship. Tourism cooperation is developing dynamically. More and more Chinese tourists have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Uzbek land. During my visit to Samarkand in 2013, the launch of a project for the archaeological restoration of the ancient city of Khiva was announced. Now this project has already been successfully completed, which has given the ancient city of Khiva a new shine.
The two countries always help each other like brothers. China and Uzbekistan are united by vital interests and a common future. Our countries are closely cooperating both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the SCO and other multilateral platforms, jointly oppose outside interference, fight the three forces of evil, transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, increase the exchange of information of an operational nature, expand the scale of training personnel for the sake of a common security. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus infection, the two countries have been intensifying anti-epidemic cooperation in the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance. Uzbekistan has launched a joint production of Chinese vaccines, which have become the most in demand in the fight against the pandemic, the jointly created drug was approved for clinical use and became a reliable barrier to people's life and health.
The two-thousand-year history of friendly exchanges and the 30-year practice of mutually beneficial cooperation show that the strengthening of all-round cooperation is in line with the trends of the times and the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples. Standing at the crossroads of past and future, we are full of expectations and confidence in the future of China-Uzbekistan relations.
First, it is important to increase mutual support and strengthen mutual trust. It is necessary, taking into account the strategic importance and long-term interests, to outline a plan for the development of Chinese-Uzbek relations in a new era, in particular, to intensify contacts at the highest and high levels, strengthen political mutual trust, deepen the exchange of experience in public administration, resolutely support each other on issues affecting key interests . The Chinese side strongly supports Uzbekistan in choosing the path of development in accordance with its national realities, and opposes all attempts from outside to interfere in the internal affairs of Uzbekistan.
Secondly, it is important to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation for the sake of common development and prosperity. It is necessary to speed up work on linking the national development strategy of the two countries, jointly develop new areas of cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, investment and large projects. At a new stage of development, China is intensively shaping a new development architectonics. We will be glad to see Uzbekistan on board the rapidly rushing forward "express" of Chinese development, and we are ready to share development opportunities with Uzbek friends. Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. In this context, our countries should, based on the existing results, combine efforts to achieve high-quality development, expand cooperation to eliminate poverty, so that China-Uzbekistan mutually beneficial cooperation will bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.
China is ready with Uzbekistan to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, jointly protect the common interests of developing countries, form a development architecture based on the principles of universal and balanced development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.
Third, it is important to strengthen security cooperation to overcome risks and challenges. Our countries must deepen cooperation in the field of security, prevent attempts by external forces to undermine the stability of the region, and create favorable external conditions for development. Afghanistan is our common neighbor. Peace, stability, development and prosperity in Afghanistan are in the interests of our countries. China highly appreciates and supports the unique role of the Uzbek side in the Afghan settlement. Together with our Uzbek colleagues, we are ready to implement the Global Security Initiative, counter new threats and challenges, protect peace, stability and international justice.
Fourth, it is important to intensify cultural and humanitarian ties to bring peoples closer together. Rapprochement of people is based on communication. The ties of Chinese-Uzbek friendship have deep historical roots and serve as a solid foundation for further strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries. We must expand cooperation in the fields of media, education, health, culture, tourism, archeology and at the regional level, accelerate the mutual establishment of cultural centers and the opening of the workshop. Lu Ban, to form a magnificent scheme of large-scale cultural and humanitarian exchanges, bring Chinese-Uzbek relations to a new height and pass on the centuries-old friendship of the two peoples from generation to generation.
In Uzbekistan, I will also participate in the upcoming Samarkand SCO summit. This anniversary year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the SCO Charter and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Guided by the goals and principles enshrined in them, the Organization, in accordance with the Shanghai spirit, promotes stability and joint development of the participating countries, setting an example of building a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect, equality and justice, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Today, the SCO is an important constructive force in Eurasia and throughout the world.
Despite the unfavorable epidemiological situation, the Uzbek side during its chairmanship conducts intensive exchanges and contacts with the participating states, fulfills the tasks assigned to itself, and contributes to maintaining the dynamics of the healthy and sustainable development of the Organization. We highly appreciate it. I am confident that with joint efforts, the summit in Samarkand will be held at the highest level and will make a major contribution to the formation of a community of common destiny for the SCO for the benefit of peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.
The path to the goal will not be far, there would be aspiration in the heart. We are ready with the Uzbek side to continue the good tradition that has developed since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and in a new historical context, together move forward on a broad path of national development and revival in the name of forming a community of common destiny for China and Uzbekistan.”
