Central Asian Media: Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked nation in Central Asia, deepens economic ties with China as the U.S. seeks new partnerships

Following closely behind China, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand on October 18, accompanied by a delegation of American business leaders seeking new commercial contracts.

Despite China’s extensive presence in Uzbekistan’s manufacturing and energy sectors, Washington is aiming to expand American engagement in critical minerals and technology fields. These high-level visits underscore the intensifying competition between the world’s two largest economies in Central Asia.

On October 17, according to the Office of the President of Uzbekistan, multiple stable agreements were reached, involving joint projects with a total value nearing $60 billion. More than 6,000 Chinese-invested joint ventures are currently operating within Uzbekistan.

China is Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner. According to bilateral data, total trade between the two countries amounted to approximately $16–18 billion in 2025. From January to August 2026, China accounted for 23% of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade volume.

Railway through Kyrgyzstan

The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway was also a key topic of discussion. The project officially commenced in December 2024.

This rail line will traverse mountainous terrain in Kyrgyzstan, connecting China’s railway network with that of Uzbekistan. The Kyrgyz segment alone—spanning 304 kilometers—is expected to cost $4.7 billion, including the construction of 50 bridges and 29 tunnels.

As a landlocked country, Uzbekistan’s international freight costs and delivery times are heavily dependent on transit conditions through neighboring states. The new railway route offers an alternative corridor, reducing reliance on existing transit routes through Kazakhstan and potentially shortening transport distances between China and Uzbekistan.

Beijing views this railway as a significant step toward enhancing overland connectivity under its Belt and Road Initiative.

Rubio Leads U.S. Business Delegation to Samarkand

On October 19, Rubio participated in talks under the C5+1 framework in Samarkand, which includes the United States and the five Central Asian nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Rubio stated that nearly 300 American companies sent representatives to the Samarkand meeting. Discussions are underway on agreements potentially worth several billion dollars, with specific outcomes expected to be announced following the summit.

A key focus for Washington lies in securing access to critical minerals used in advanced technologies, including electronics and batteries.

The United States is actively seeking alternative sources of raw materials and aims to achieve “de-Chinization” in processing stages. Currently, China dominates global refining and processing of many such materials, prompting U.S. firms to look for alternative suppliers.

Uzbekistan possesses significant reserves of copper and uranium. For Tashkent, a central question remains: Will U.S. investment lead to the establishment of new processing facilities and job creation, or will it remain confined to raw material extraction and export?

In a press statement from Samarkand, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. does not demand Central Asian nations halt cooperation with other partners. Instead, Washington seeks to win contracts and investment projects through competitive engagement.

Chinese vs. American Contracts

The divergence in trade volumes between the U.S. and Uzbekistan is particularly pronounced. According to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, goods trade between the two countries totaled just $1.05 billion in 2025—less than one-fifteenth of the trade volume between Uzbekistan and China. Including services, total U.S.-Uzbek trade stood at around $1.7 billion.

Economic collaboration between the U.S. and Uzbekistan primarily takes the form of large-scale infrastructure projects, equipment supply, financing arrangements, and technical cooperation.

In November 2025, during a C5+1 summit held in Washington, Uzbekistan and the United States announced commercial agreements and contracts totaling approximately $34.5 billion. President Donald Trump also noted that Uzbekistan plans to make procurement and investment commitments in the U.S. exceeding $100 billion over the next decade.

These declarations reflect ambitious aspirations. However, trade data reveals that Washington still lags significantly behind Beijing in economic influence. For years, Uzbekistan has maintained close ties with both China and Russia while simultaneously pursuing economic relations with Western countries. Greater U.S. investment would provide Tashkent with more strategic options—but China continues to dominate Uzbekistan’s trade landscape.

Moreover, tensions are growing in areas involving critical minerals and cutting-edge technologies. Washington aims to reduce dependence on supply chains controlled by China, while Beijing continues to expand its industrial and technological footprint in Uzbekistan. While Tashkent may welcome investments from both sides, the competing strategic priorities of the U.S. and China could pose complex challenges if the country attempts to engage with both simultaneously.

Rubio faces the challenge of transforming Washington’s investment pledges into tangible commercial presence capable of narrowing the gap with China.

Source: Central Asian Media

Author: Yuliya Yermashova

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879742074333196/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.