Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to China as part of participation in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing caused a wide response in the leading Chinese media and expert circles. Of particular interest were the bilateral talks held on 5 February between the leader of Uzbekistan and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping.

In particular, according to Xinhua news agency, during the meeting of the heads of the two states, it was emphasized that over the past 30 years, Chinese-Uzbek relations have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Uzbekistan and China adhere to the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. The parties strengthen political mutual trust and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

The website of the authoritative newspaper "People’s Daily" focuses on the agreement between the leaders of the two countries on the further deepening of bilateral comprehensive cooperation in the interests of the peoples of Uzbekistan and China. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of further building up trade and economic cooperation.

The electronic edition "China Daily", in turn, notes the statement of the Chinese leader about the readiness of the PRC for close cooperation with Uzbekistan in the field of sustainable development. The readiness of the parties for further cooperation in the field of industry, renewable energy sources, the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and poverty reduction is emphasized.

The influential newspaper "Global Times" focuses readers’ attention on the possibilities of further expansion of China’s transport and communication ties with Uzbekistan and Central Asia as a whole. The heads of the two states also exchanged on cooperation within the framework of the SCO and the One Belt, One Road initiative.

In turn, Chinese experts emphasized the warm atmosphere in which the talks between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Xi Jinping took place. According to their estimates, this testifies to the special trusting and friendly relations between the leaders of the two countries.

In particular, as Xu Tao, expert of the Institute for Social Development of Eurasia of the Center for Social Development under the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, noted, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games and held talks with President Xi Jinping during celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

According to the expert, this demonstrates a high level of political mutual trust and comprehensive strategic partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and China. The heads of the two states "synchronized watches" on the main issues of the bilateral agenda and identified priorities for strengthening multifaceted cooperation for the coming years. The leaders also exchanged views on the interaction of the two countries within the framework of the SCO and other international organizations.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Xi Jinping positively assessed the dynamics of the development of practical cooperation between the two states. Over the past few years, China has maintained the status of a leading trade and economic partner and the largest export market for Uzbek goods. Bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation is being strengthened in such areas as agriculture, infrastructure, finance, logistics, industrial parks, etc.

Xu Tao emphasizes that Uzbekistan and China, which are historically linked to the Great Silk Road, have great prospects for partnership in the field of transport interconnection. In this regard, interaction within the framework of the initiative to create a Global Center for Innovation and Knowledge in the field of sustainable transport, as well as strengthening cooperation in the fields of "smart transport", "smart logistics", "green" corridors are in the interests of the two states.

Su Chan, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shared her assessments of the Uzbek-Chinese high-level talks in Beijing. In her opinion, the meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Xi Jinping speaks of their personal attention and firm support for a firm course towards further strengthening multifaceted cooperation between the two states.

According to the Chinese expert, in recent years, bilateral relations between China and Uzbekistan have acquired a qualitatively new, dynamic character. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, through joint efforts, our countries were able to ensure progressive development in many areas of bilateral cooperation. Fruitful cooperation has been established in such areas as the fight against coronavirus infection, vaccination, healthcare, and poverty reduction.

Beijing highly appreciates the active efforts of Uzbekistan aimed at further strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia, creating new opportunities for expanding multifaceted ties, and developing transport and communication systems. All this harmoniously correlates with the main objectives of President Xi Jinping’s "One Belt, One Road" initiative to promote inter-regional interconnectedness.

In general, according to Chinese experts, the negotiations between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Xi Jinping have become another clear evidence of the progressive development of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation. Being at a new historical starting point, China and Uzbekistan will continue to promote active political dialogue, expand practical cooperation, and take comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.

It should be noted that on the eve of the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to China, a number of leading Chinese media published detailed information and information-analytical materials. The national TV channels CCTV and CGTN broadcast special video reports in Chinese and English dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Uzbek-Chinese diplomatic relations, the state and prospects of comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Particular attention was paid to the main results of large-scale reforms in the country over the past five years, as well as the priorities of the New Development Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2022-2026. The focus of the Chinese media was also on current tasks within the framework of the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Among them, the most actively covering the visit of the delegation of Uzbekistan headed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev were such mass media as the leading newspapers Renmin Ribao, Guangming Ribao, China Daily, Global Times, as well as popular magazines Beijing Review, Silk Road Review, Belt and Road Outlook, Psearcher.

So, for example, in the authoritative newspapers "Renmin Ribao" and "Guanming Ribao" published articles on the modern processes of the dynamic development of our country and Uzbek-Chinese relations. The Global Times devoted a special section to Uzbekistan, which reveals the achievements and prospects of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Under the special heading "Uzbekistan Special" in the journal "Beijing Review" a series of articles has been published, revealing the huge potential of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation in practical areas. The publication pays special attention to the development priorities of New Uzbekistan, its foreign policy and the country’s chairmanship within the SCO.

A special issue of the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan, published by the Psearcher magazine, was released in Beijing. The special issue contains materials on the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan, trade, economic, investment and tourism opportunities of the country, the current state and prospects for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and China.