Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 17 June 2025, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the second "Central Asia–China" summit, held in Astana.

The forum was chaired by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and was attended by President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, as well as the Presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — Sadyr Japarov, Emomali Rahmon, and Serdar Berdimuhamedov, respectively.

The agenda of the meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Central Asian countries and China in key areas, along with discussions of pressing international and regional issues.

In his opening remarks, the President of Uzbekistan highlighted the contribution of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the development of friendly relations and partnerships with the nations of Central Asia. He noted Beijing’s active support for the region’s sustainable development through concrete programs and initiatives.

President Mirziyoyev expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made since the first summit in Xi’an in 2023. Since then, a secretariat has been established, stable cooperation formats between ministries and experts have been launched, and the legal framework of the partnership has been expanding.

The Uzbek leader drew attention to the steady growth of trade turnover between China and the Central Asian states, which is expected to reach US$100 billion in 2025. He emphasized that this rapid progress stems from both the positive transformation within the region — which is becoming a space of trust and partnership — and China’s consistent policy of fostering good neighborly relations through the Belt and Road Initiative.

President Mirziyoyev outlined a number of proposals to further strengthen cooperation. He noted that the summit was taking place against the backdrop of growing turbulence in international affairs and increasing threats to sustainable development. He stressed the inadmissibility of using force to resolve international disputes and reaffirmed his strong belief in the need for peaceful conflict resolution based on diplomacy, respect for sovereignty, and international law.

In this context, he underscored the significance of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation, adopted at the summit, which he described as a cornerstone of regional stability. He proposed developing a Concept for Long-Term Partnership, supported by concrete mechanisms and projects to implement the treaty’s provisions.

Speaking on economic cooperation, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that trade, investment, and technological partnerships with China are becoming a key driver of sustainable growth for the countries of Central Asia. He proposed the swift adoption of a New Economic Partnership Program and the establishment of an Interregional Council on Trade and Investment at the level of deputy prime ministers. Uzbekistan expressed readiness to host the council’s first meeting before the end of the year.

To boost trade, President Mirziyoyev proposed the creation of a multilateral Electronic Silk Road platform within the Digital Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the establishment of a Regional Center for Industrial Standardization and Certification in Tashkent to facilitate exports to China. He also called for the adoption of a technology transfer roadmap involving businesses, research institutes, and engineering centers.

To enhance industrial and infrastructure connectivity, the Uzbek leader put forward the idea of developing a Central Asia–China Industrial and Infrastructure Belt Strategy, which would include creating a network of clusters, technology parks, and logistics hubs with Chinese investment and technology. He also proposed exploring the integration of the region’s energy systems with that of China, including the construction of high-voltage transmission lines.

The President emphasized the need for sustainable financial instruments to support large-scale infrastructure projects, noting that existing mechanisms fall short of growing investment needs. In this regard, he proposed establishing a Central Asia–China Development Fund as an effective platform to finance key initiatives.

Transport cooperation featured prominently in his speech. He underscored the strategic importance of starting construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, as well as the potential benefits of the Trans-Afghan railway project. He proposed forming expert groups to conduct field research, modernize logistics infrastructure, and develop a Unified Map of Transport Corridors ahead of the next summit.

On the climate front, President Mirziyoyev called for the acceleration of the adoption of a Regional Green Development Program through 2030 and proposed the establishment of an Environmental Alliance to jointly combat desertification and land degradation.

The President also devoted significant attention to digital transformation and artificial intelligence, identifying them as key drivers of future growth. He proposed building a network of integrated data banks and constructing a fiber-optic “Digital Corridor” along major energy and logistics routes.

Cultural and humanitarian ties were also highlighted. He stressed the importance of initiatives to bring peoples closer together and proposed creating a unified digital platform titled “Cultural Heritage of the Silk Road” to consolidate resources from countries in the region and China. He also suggested forming a scientific and educational platform for experience exchange between universities, academies of sciences, and research institutions.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of joint efforts to ensure regional security, highlighting the need to strengthen information-sharing mechanisms in combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime. Expressing concern over the situation in Afghanistan, he proposed the creation of a High-Level Group on Supporting Afghanistan’s Reconstruction, and offered to host its meeting in Termez with participation from the Afghan side.

In conclusion, Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to open dialogue and to strengthening pragmatic, mutually beneficial cooperation within the Central Asia–China format.

The summit concluded with the signing of the Astana Declaration and the Treaty on Eternal Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation. A wide package of intergovernmental and interagency agreements was adopted. The summit also featured the ceremonial launch of cooperation centers focused on poverty alleviation, desertification, education, and a new platform to promote free trade.