China–Uzbekistan relations

China–Uzbekistan relations
Diplomatic mission
Chinese Embassy, Tashkent	Uzbek Embassy, Beijing
Envoy
Ambassador Jiang Yan	Ambassador Farhod Nuritdinovich Arziev

China–Uzbekistan relations^[a] are the bilateral relationship between China and Uzbekistan. Both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

History

According to the Ming Shilu, ambassadors from the Uzbek Khanate and Bukhara Khanate corresponded with Ming China more than 20 times between 1488 and 1618.^[1]

China recognized Uzbekistan's independence on 27 December 1991 and the two countries established relations on 2 January 1992.^[2] Both countries signed the "China-Uzbek Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation" in 2005, during Uzbek leader Islam Karimov's meeting with Chinese leader Hu Jintao in Beijing.^[3]

Uzbekistan has cooperated with China in extraditing Uyghur activists from the country.^[4] In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Uzbekistan, signed a joint letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council defending China's persecution of Uyghurs.^[5]^[6] Uzbekistan was one of 16 countries that defended China in 2019 but did not do so in 2020.^[7]

Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov called China Uzbekistan's "closest partner" on a 26 August 2019 meeting.^[8]

Economic relations

China is the second-largest importer of raw materials from Uzbekistan.^[9]^: 152 As of 2024, significant Chinese investment in the country has resulted in approximately 600 Chinese-Uzbek joint enterprises.^[9]^: 152

China has also increasing its development loans to Uzbekistan.^[8] China regards Uzbekistan as a critical part of the Belt and Road Initiative.^{[citation needed]}

Cultural and educational

In 2013, Uzbekistan and China signed a cultural exchange agreement to increase engagement in culture, education, science, and technology.^[9]^: 159 The first exchange per the agreement occurred in 2017, during which seminars, exhibitions, and performances were held.^[9]^: 159 These exchanges have been repeated since.^[9]^: 159

China provides support for the preservation of and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Uzbekistan.^[9]^: 159

China Central Television (CCTV) and Uzbekistan's National Television and Radio Corporation (UzTRK) cooperate to produce joint programs and documentaries.^[9]^: 159

Uzbekistan has two Confucius Institutes.^[9]^: 156

Notes

^
- Uzbek: Xitoy-O‘zbekiston munosabatlari, cyrillized: Хитой-Ўзбекистон муносабатлари, arabized: خىتاي-ئوزبېكىستان مۇناسەبەتلەرى, pronounced [χɨ̥ˌtʰɒj‿ɵzbekɪ̥sˈtʰɒn mʊnɒsɐbɐtlæˈɾɪ]
- Chinese: 中國—烏茲別克斯坦關係, simplified: 中国—乌兹别克斯坦关系, romanized: Zhōngguó—Wūzībiékèsītǎn guānxì, cyrillized: Җунгуй–Вузбекстан гуанщи, arabized: جْوقُوَ–وُذِبِیَكْسْتً قُوًاسِ, pronounced [ʈʂʊ́ŋkwǒ wútsɹ̩́pjěkʰɤ̂sɹ̩́tʰàn kwánɕî]