Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 12 to 14 August 2025, Astana hosted the second conference of the Working Group on Civil Aviation Cooperation “Central Asia – China” (C5+1 format).

As part of the event, negotiations were held between the delegation of Uzbekistan and representatives of China’s Civil Aviation Administration.

The sides discussed increasing the number of approved flights between the two countries to 130 per week, expanding the list of Chinese cities open to Uzbek carriers, and raising to eight the number of Uzbek airlines granted rights to operate passenger and cargo flights to China. Following the talks, a relevant agreement was signed, which will come into force after completion of China’s domestic approval procedures.

The first meeting of the Working Group took place in June 2024 in Xi’an, China. At that time, several key agreements were reached: the number of airlines authorized to operate scheduled flights rose from three to six on each side; destinations available to Uzbek carriers in China increased from nine to twelve; and the weekly flight quota grew from 30 to 100 for each side. In addition, the parties agreed to grant “fifth freedom rights” for cargo services to third countries, along with extra opportunities for passenger operations.

Special focus was given to expanding the rights of Uzbek airlines on China’s Hainan Island, granting them unlimited third, fourth, fifth, and seventh freedom rights for flights to Haikou, Sanya, and Qionghai Bo’ao international airports. In turn, Chinese airlines were allowed to operate flights from these airports to cities in Uzbekistan without restrictions.

These agreements have significantly broadened the air network between the two countries. To existing carriers — Uzbekistan Airways, China Southern Airlines, and Loong Air — new operators have joined: Centrum Air, Qanot Sharq, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, YTO Airlines, and North Western Cargo International. Weekly passenger flights increased from 19 to 61, while cargo and transit operations rose from 72 to 128.

The geography of flights has also expanded: in Uzbekistan, Samarkand and Fergana joined Tashkent, while in China, new destinations include Beijing, Urumqi, Xi’an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Sanya, and Haikou.

Currently, 61 passenger flights and more than 120 cargo and transit flights are operated weekly between Uzbekistan and China.

Among them are routes such as Tashkent–Beijing (17 flights), Tashkent–Urumqi (14), Tashkent–Guangzhou (9), as well as flights to Xi’an, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Sanya, alongside newly launched routes from Samarkand and Fergana.