Against the backdrop of a pressured global economy and profound reshaping of the geopolitical landscape, Central Asia has found itself at the forefront of a new development wave. On the eve of the second "China-Central Asia Summit," Beijing Dialogue and Observer Network connected in conversation with Dr. Sanjar Valiev, Director of the influential Uzbek think tank Center for Foreign Policy Studies, to discuss topics including the "six-country" cooperation mechanism involving China and the five Central Asian countries, Sino-Uzbek bilateral relations, and regional integration prospects.
Dr. Valiev pointed out that Central Asian countries share cultural and historical ties but possess diverse resource endowments and economic structures, fostering collaborative potential amidst differences. With the continuous strengthening of regional connectivity, Central Asia is moving toward becoming a more dynamic and resilient unified market. He emphasized that this summit is not only an important venue for high-level strategic dialogue but also a crucial moment for Central Asian countries to jointly seek development and unleash their potential in a changing world.
Below is the full transcript of the interview.
In 2023, the first China-Central Asia Summit was held in Xi'an. Chinese national leaders and the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries jointly planted six pomegranate trees, symbolizing the tight unity of the six countries like pomegranate seeds. CCTV News.
Han Hua: Uzbekistan is the first country in Central Asia to establish a new-era all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership with China. How does Uzbekistan view this special partnership?
Valiev: First, I want to stress that this matter is highly valued in Uzbekistan and is considered a significant achievement of modern diplomacy. Elevating bilateral relations with China—a vibrant global superpower—to such an unprecedented height has opened extensive opportunities for our country.
Symbolically, this partnership's high status not only reflects the strategic importance of the two countries to each other but also demonstrates the firm confidence of both sides in building a friendly relationship based on deep trust and a long-term perspective.
Looking at tangible achievements, it would not be an exaggeration to say that China has become one of Uzbekistan's most important partners in recent years, actively supporting our overall development and modernization efforts. Since 2017, China has been Uzbekistan's largest trading partner, and as of 2023, China has become our largest investor.
Recently, in the context of evolving global geopolitical and geoeconomic landscapes, new opportunities for deepened bilateral cooperation have emerged. For instance, the transport and logistics sector holds tremendous potential. A prime example is the commencement of construction on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway—a project that had been in preparation for many years due to the need to resolve various issues, but is finally taking shape.
In fact, there are many such examples. Overall, these achievements clearly embody the essence of the new-era all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership.
Han Hua: You mentioned the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway. How is the project progressing now, and what difficulties have been encountered?
Valiev: Just recently, on April 29 of this year, a key site groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kyrgyzstan, marking the entry of the project into the substantive construction phase. Specifically, the first phase involved the construction of the Narin, Koshtoba, and Fergana Mountain Tunnel complexes, with a total length of 37 kilometers.
A distinctive feature of this project is the tradition of holding official ceremonies attended by high-ranking representatives from all three countries at every significant construction milestone. This approach has proven effective in several ways: first, ensuring complete transparency in the construction process and progress; second, maintaining construction schedules through more efficient oversight mechanisms, ensuring timely progress; third, facilitating on-site coordination and resolution of emerging issues or challenges.
This approach allows us to believe that the new 532-kilometer-long route will be put into operation on schedule.
On December 27, 2024, at noon local time in Kyrgyzstan, the launch ceremony of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway project was held in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.
As for past obstacles, I would like to highlight the main challenges: for many years, this project was deemed economically unfeasible; additionally, differing railway gauge standards between China and Kyrgyzstan posed technical challenges for project implementation.
However, times change, and objective circumstances continue to evolve. The needs and carrying capacities of each country's economy are continuously growing. Recent assessments indicate that the project holds significant potential and is economically feasible. Now is the best time for its implementation. It is encouraging that the governments of all three countries recognize the importance of leveraging such strategic growth points.
Han Hua: What impact will this have on the development of the Middle Corridor and China's and Uzbekistan's connections with other countries in the region?
Valiev: I would like to address a commonly held view that sees the "Middle Corridor" and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway as competing projects.
In reality, these two initiatives serve entirely different geographic and strategic directions. As you know, the Middle Corridor aims to connect China with Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus, while the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway focuses primarily on facilitating cargo transport to countries in Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
The railway network connecting China and Europe via Central Asia and the Caucasus is called the "Middle Corridor" (Central Corridor). Nikkei Asia.
Overall, both projects are vital components of the Pan-Eurasian land transport network, which will ultimately connect China with all corners of the Eurasian continent. From the perspective of an organization like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a promising blueprint for member state interconnectivity is gradually taking shape.
The completion of this new railway line will ultimately benefit all neighboring countries, and our region—Central Asia—will once again return to its historical position as a hub connecting the vast Eurasian continent in global trade.
Han Hua: Many of the prospects you mentioned are related to Uzbekistan's railway project in Afghanistan. How is your country building relations with the new Taliban-led government in Kabul? How does Uzbekistan view China's stance and actions on the Afghanistan issue and other regional security issues?
Valiev: First, I would like to emphasize that Uzbekistan is currently the only country with practical experience in building and operating railways in Afghanistan. With the support of multiple partners, we successfully constructed a rail link from the Uzbek city of Termez to the important Afghan hub of Mazar-i-Sharif, setting a precedent.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the successful commissioning of that railway. The success of this initial project gives us the confidence to develop more ambitious plans for expanding railway connectivity in Afghanistan.
That is why, in close coordination with partners in Afghanistan and other interested countries, our Ministry of Transport and the national railway company O‘zbekiston temir yo‘llari are actively advancing the Trans-Afghan Corridor project.
The construction involves challenging mountainous terrain, requiring advanced engineering expertise and significant financial investment. Of course, given Afghanistan's current specific political situation and the interim government's relations with many countries and international organizations, including financial institutions, there are still many risks and unresolved issues.
Schematic diagram of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.
Uzbekistan was one of the first countries to initiate dialogue with the new Afghan authorities and continues to take steps to maintain constructive Uzbek-Afghan engagement. Our position is based on the understanding that, as immediate neighbors of Afghanistan, we have no alternative but to sustain friendly and good-neighborly relations with all the peoples surrounding us. It is now clear that if Afghanistan's neighbors do not provide support during this critical period of rebuilding state institutions and the economy, the entire region will face severe consequences.
Notably, the Taliban government has also demonstrated a sense of responsibility in managing the country and is interested in predictable long-term relationships. Therefore, we are witnessing tangible progress in our bilateral relations in areas such as politics, security, environmental cooperation, the economy, humanitarian assistance, and transportation logistics. For example, just last month, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan reached an agreement on the joint use of Amu Darya river water. This is a highly significant step toward coordinated management of transboundary water resources among Central Asian nations.
Of particular importance is that our regional initiatives and efforts have found full understanding and support from China. Your government remains firmly committed to constructive dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation—an approach it also applies in its relations with Kabul. China's diplomatic efforts in this area reflect a sincere commitment to building lasting peace and fostering a stable society in Afghanistan.
In September 2023, China became the first country in the world to appoint an ambassador to Kabul and accept the Taliban's ambassador to China. This move was highly symbolic and set an example for other countries to adopt similarly responsible and flexible diplomatic approaches. Equally important is China's humanitarian initiatives to support the Afghan people and its broad assistance in Afghanistan's development. A concrete manifestation of this support is Afghanistan's inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative.
In conclusion, an analysis of Uzbek and Chinese approaches toward Afghanistan reveals many similarities: both are based on pragmatic dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. On this matter, we work jointly across all international and regional platforms. I am confident that the upcoming SCO Summit, to be held this year in China, will result in landmark decisions regarding Afghanistan.
Han Hua: What are other potential areas of cooperation between China and Uzbekistan?
Valiev: In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in developing both the structure and substance of practical cooperation. As a result, the interconnectedness of our two economies has become a tangible reality.
The next step is to focus on enhancing the quality of this cooperation. We must go beyond traditional economic cooperation areas such as infrastructure development, oil and gas trade, and commodity exchange. I am confident that future growth will stem from expanding our cooperation into new sectors—renewable energy, the digital economy, modern agriculture, and scientific and technological innovation.
Prioritizing policy layouts is equally crucial. Given China's rich experience in green development, it is advisable to expand educational exchanges in areas such as green finance and innovative technologies. These collaborations can support Uzbekistan in achieving its environmental goals under the "Uzbekistan—2030" strategy.
Digital cooperation should form the foundation of our future development. China has recently achieved unprecedented results in science and technology and innovation. A notable example is the much-discussed AI model DeepSeek. Reports suggest it is hundreds of times more cost-effective than its Western counterparts and has already been integrated into the operational systems of numerous government agencies and enterprises.
Only through the adoption of technology and innovation can we overcome resource dependency and transition toward a sustainable development model. Creating shared digital infrastructure to facilitate the exchange and sharing of technologies and best practices will open new horizons in sectors such as healthcare, education, public administration, and industry.
Han Hua: In the face of global economic challenges such as climate change, rising protectionism, and escalating conflicts, how is Uzbekistan responding to this situation?
Valiev: Uzbekistan maintains a sober and realistic assessment of the risks present in today’s world and their implications for our region.
Like China, we are consistently engaged in combating global warming. In 2017, Uzbekistan signed the Paris Agreement and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 35% by 2030 and increasing the share of green energy in total electricity generation to 50%.
To meet these targets, "Uzbekistan—2030" national development strategy includes 12 priority objectives aimed at addressing climate-related challenges, including the conservation of natural resources, expanding the use of alternative energy sources, and implementing energy-saving practices across economic sectors.
We have already made significant progress. For example, as part of the national "Green Space" initiative, last year we planted 138 million saplings of trees and shrubs, established 257 green parks, and covered 215,000 hectares of land in the dried-up Aral Sea bed and surrounding areas with vegetation.
In 2024, the 1-gigawatt photovoltaic project invested by China Energy Engineering Group Gezhouba Overseas Investment Co., Ltd. in Uzbekistan achieved grid-connected power generation of 400 megawatts. (Photo by Zhang Zhiguo) People's Daily.
Simultaneously, Uzbekistan's ongoing reforms and modernization processes coincide with a period of deglobalization and increasing protectionist measures worldwide.
Uzbekistan’s principled position is based on a commitment to multilateralism and a fair distribution of the benefits of globalization. For this reason, we are actively working toward completing negotiations for accession to the World Trade Organization. Achieving WTO membership will mark a historic milestone in Uzbekistan’s long journey toward integration with the global economy.
Correspondingly, we advocate for creating favorable conditions for the sustainable development of all humanity. On the international stage, Uzbekistan—alongside like-minded countries—supports open, equitable, and mutually beneficial cooperation aimed at building a harmonious world where the progress of all nations and peoples is prioritized.
Han Hua: How is the China–Central Asia cooperation format viewed in the region? What are the expectations for the upcoming summit and overall multilateral cooperation?
Valiev: Exactly two years ago, the first historic China–Central Asia Summit marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation. The success of this landmark event is undoubtedly due to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who proposed a series of consistent initiatives that were fully supported by all heads of state in the region. Thanks to the political will and joint efforts of our leaders, this format has quickly proven itself to be a highly effective platform for trust-based dialogue and fruitful practical cooperation.
Uzbekistan views the "China–Central Asia" platform as a long-term framework for forward-looking partnership—one that supports the transformation of our region into a zone of stability, sustainable development, and technological advancement.
Today, the New Central Asia is a space characterized by mutual respect, good-neighborliness, openness, and constructive cooperation. We have entered a more advanced phase of establishing systematic and trust-based dialogue on key developmental issues.
One of the most important achievements in recent years has been the consistent resolution of even the most complex regional challenges. A recent and inspiring example is the signing of the historic tripartite border junction agreement in Khujand involving Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Both intra-regional trade and economic exchanges with China and other partners continue to grow steadily. In 2024, Uzbekistan’s total trade turnover with Central Asian countries and China reached $20 billion—almost doubling over the last five years.
The number of joint ventures with partners from Central Asia and China has exceeded 5,000. Last year, Uzbekistan welcomed 8.5 million visitors from neighboring countries. Citizens of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan can enter Uzbekistan using domestic ID documents, and Chinese citizens enjoy visa-free access for up to 30 days.
All of this vividly illustrates a qualitatively new level of trade, industrial cooperation, and humanitarian exchange.
China has always supported the initiatives of Central Asian countries, whether political or economic. Today, China confidently holds its position as one of the leading trade and investment partners for the countries of the region.
Therefore, all Central Asian countries expect the upcoming second summit to deliver breakthrough agreements and tangible projects. This format has already built a strong reputation as an efficient and responsive mechanism for practical cooperation.
Politically, amid global turbulence and shifting international dynamics, it is essential to demonstrate unity and a collective commitment to maintaining stability and sustainable development in the region.
Economically, a key breakthrough would be launching the groundwork for deep, long-term scientific and technological collaboration—especially in innovation-driven industries.
On the humanitarian side, our peoples are increasingly interested in deepening mutual understanding through intellectual and cultural exchanges.
In essence, we are speaking about concrete, impactful projects that align with China’s global initiatives in the fields of security, development, and civilizational dialogue. In this sense, Central Asia has the potential to become a laboratory for the successful implementation of these ideas in a specific regional context. The necessary conditions are already in place—and our countries are eager to realize these opportunities in close partnership with China.
Han Hua: Many observers outside the region tend to view Central Asia with a broad brush, failing to distinguish much between the countries. What important nuances do you think they are missing?
Valiev: This perception may stem from the historical and cultural commonality among the peoples of Central Asia. Indeed, most Central Asian nations share Turkic roots and are united by common traditions, cultural values, and religion.
However, Central Asia is a highly multifaceted region, and each country is unique in its own way.
For example, geography has played a defining role in shaping distinct economic paths. While Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan are rich in mineral resources, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are endowed primarily with water and hydropower resources.
The structure of each country's economy also differs significantly. Kazakhstan’s economy is dominated by industry, services, and large-scale monoculture agriculture. In contrast, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have thriving small and medium-sized businesses, traditional agriculture, and significant hydroelectric capacity.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan stands out for its relatively high level of economic diversification. In addition to sectors traditionally prominent in the region, we have developed full-scale production of automobiles—including electric vehicles—consumer electronics, and electrical equipment. Moreover, Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a regional leader in IT, artificial intelligence, aerospace engineering, and the development of unmanned technologies.
Despite these differences, there is a clear and shared understanding in the region: only by working together can we become a competitive force on the global economic map and a consistently attractive destination for foreign investment.
A united Central Asia represents a large and dynamic market of nearly 80 million people and a real GDP of around $400 billion, with average annual growth of approximately 6%.
The strategic role of our region will only continue to grow, as will its importance to immediate neighbors and key economic partners—such as China, Russia, and others with whom we maintain strategic relations.
I am confident that the upcoming summit in Astana, along with the bilateral talks between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the event, will further unlock the vast potential of Central Asia and help us jointly tackle the challenges we face in the years ahead.
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