Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 4 November, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, made a welcome video message to the participants of the opening ceremony of the third China International Exhibition of Imported Goods "CIIE-2020" in Shanghai.

In his speech, the head of our state noted that the holding of such a large-scale event as the EXPO testifies to the success of China in restoring the national economy and the exceptional demand for broad international cooperation in a pandemic.

In this regard, the leader of Uzbekistan dwelled on the key issues of expanding mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation and the development of interregional interaction in the context of the global crisis.

They underlined the consistently taken measures in Uzbekistan to liberalize the national economy, simplify the foreign trade regime and export-import procedures, harmonize the regulatory framework with international standards, form "green corridors", join the World Trade Organization, and create an even more favorable investment climate.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that strengthening cooperation in the field of transport and expanding the transport and transit potential of Central Asia remains an important priority.

Confidence was expressed that against the background of Uzbekistan’s active support of the One Belt, One Road initiative, which opens up broad prospects for strengthening regional and interregional interconnection, Central Asia, as in the days of the Great Silk Road, could again become a "hub transport and transit corridors between Europe and Asia.

They noted the great importance of the initiative to create new transport corridors connecting the railway systems of Central and South Asia, which will close the land transport system of the Eurasian continent.

In this regard, the head of state stressed that our country is in favor of accelerating the elaboration of a project for the construction of a railway along the route of the new multimodal transport corridor China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan.

In addition, it was proposed to unite efforts in forming an integrated network of dry ports, logistics and wholesale distribution centers within the framework of the One Belt, One Road initiative.

Taking into account the demand for these initiatives, hopes were expressed for the active support of partners and international organizations for Uzbekistan’s proposal to create a Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Communication Interconnectedness under the auspices of the UN, put forward at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

The readiness for the active development of industrial cooperation, the organization of new joint ventures, primarily for the deep processing of mineral resources and the production of products with high added value for entering export markets, was announced.

To this end, it was proposed to adopt a joint program of industrial cooperation and to stimulate business representatives of the two countries to implement specific projects using various instruments of joint investment funds, investment guarantees and insurance.

The head of our state drew the attention of the ceremony participants to the fact that in the context of a pandemic, the acceleration of the processes of digitalization of the economy has acquired particular relevance.

In this connection, it was proposed to work out joint measures for an even wider introduction of information technologies in the areas of international trade, customs clearance, transport and education.

The President of Uzbekistan spoke about the urgent need for closer international coordination and interaction at the bilateral and regional levels to overcome the socio-economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

It was emphasized that in the context of a decline in production, a growing demand for medical supplies, financial instability and disruption to global supply chains, no country can alone overcome the consequences of the pandemic.

In conclusion, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev wished the participants of the exhibition successful work and expressed confidence that the results of the Expo would give an additional impetus to the process of restoring world trade and expanding international economic cooperation.

At the ceremony, the presidents of Serbia, Chile, South Africa, the heads of the governments of Spain and Pakistan, heads of a number of international organizations also made statements.

Within the framework of the third China International Exhibition of Imported Goods, the Uzbek-Chinese Business Forum is planned to be held in Shanghai on 5 November. It will be attended by about 150 representatives of large Chinese trade and investment companies.

During the forum, a presentation of the investment, export and tourism potential of Uzbekistan will take place. In particular, Chinese business circles will get acquainted with new opportunities for cooperation with Uzbek partners in the oil and gas, textile, chemical, electrical, metallurgical, food, agricultural and construction sectors.

Participants of the event will also be informed about the favorable business climate in Uzbekistan, conditions for doing business in the territory of free economic zones, achievements in economic development in various industries.