Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Chinese economic publication China Trade Daily published an article titled "Trade in agricultural products between China and Uzbekistan is improving," Dunyo news agency reported.

According to the publication, Uzbekistan is a key country in agricultural cooperation with China and an important hub for participation in the construction of the "One Belt, One Road". “In recent years, Uzbekistan has been constantly increasing investment in agricultural infrastructure, updating the irrigation system and actively introducing advanced processing technologies.”

The quality of agricultural products and the added value of its industry are constantly improving. Fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan are becoming increasingly popular with Chinese buyers and consumers, the article says.

It is noted that in 2020, Uzbekistan exported 14 types of food to China, mainly fresh fruits and dried fruits, which increased to 17 types in 2021. By the end of this year, an increase in exported goods by more than 20 types is expected, and the export of fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan to China will also double.

In 2021, Uzbekistan exported to the Chinese market more than 100 thousand tons of various agricultural products worth more than US$112 million. According to current statistics, China accounts for 4.5% of Uzbekistan’s total fruit and vegetable exports, the publication states.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been actively improving the conditions for unhindered trade with China. Currently, flights are open between a number of Chinese cities and Tashkent. The opening of the international cargo route China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan also provided the republic with logistical and transport opportunities for exporting agricultural products to the international market.

The publication reports that the export of vegetables and fruits from Uzbekistan to China includes cherries, melons, fresh peppers, pomegranates, green mung beans, sesame seeds, raisins, dried apricots, walnuts, sweet and salted almonds, grape seeds, peanuts, natural honey, dried peppers, fresh lemons and prunes.

To date, Uzbekistan is among the top five countries in the world for the production of peaches, plums and grapes, as well as for the best quality of cherries, apricots (including dried apricots) and prunes. In 2021, China for the first time entered the top three largest consumer countries of agricultural products from Uzbekistan, the newspaper reports.

Among all agricultural products exported by Uzbekistan to China, the demand for green mung bean was the highest, the volume of which increased from 28,000 tons in 2019 to 75,000 tons in 2020.

According to China Trade Daily, Uzbekistan is a potential partner of China in the further development of agricultural trade. Today, the Uzbek side is actively solving all issues of selection and storage of new types of fruits and vegetables for the Chinese market. Offers Chinese partners active cooperation in logistics and transport, the publication concludes.