developing economy, Uzbekistan should become the transport and logistics center of Central
Asia. In turn, the PRC is ready to act as a unifying bridge between Central and East Asia.
Consonance development strategies of the two countries
Today, Uzbekistan is implementing step by step its own Development Strategy for 2017–
2021, and we notice the consonance of a whole range of its economic goals with the priorities
of implementing the Chinese initiative to the “OBOR”.
Uzbekistan is one of the most
During the conference, it was noted that the Chinese convenient countries for doing
side highly appreciates the efforts of Uzbekistan to carry out business. According to this indicator, it
reforms in all sectors of the national economy. From the ranks 11th in the world. Over the past
15 months, conditions for international
point of view of the PRC experts, the “Action Strategy on Five trade have been significantly improved.
Priority Directions of the Development of the Republic of Cyril Muller, Vice-President of the World
Uzbekistan in 2017-2021”, adopted by the Government of Bank.
Uzbekistan, plays a special role in this process.
According to the Chinese experts, the adoption of the “Action Strategy” was a “big strategic
decision” by the Leadership of Uzbekistan. A similar plan exists in China, the priority areas of
which identify key tasks such as “reducing poverty in the country and improving the economic
well-being of the people.” In this regard, Uzbekistan and China have common interests
associated primarily with improving the lives of their people. The implementation of the plans
specified in this Strategy will lead the country to a new, higher stage of development, through
which Uzbekistan will be transformed into a developed, open and profitable partner, including
for China. Yu Xinghue, Secretary of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said: “We have
great prospects for looking at the future of successful implementation of reforms in Uzbekistan.
The ongoing positive changes are a clear example of this.”
We also noticed that the World Bank announced the “Doing Business-2018” ranking. In
terms of business liberalization, Uzbekistan ranked 74th among 190 countries and entered the
top ten countries with the fastest development in the world. In this way, according to the data of
2016, Uzbekistan took the 141st place, and in 2017 the 87th place. This indicates a very
impressive dynamics over the past two years.” 4
The discussions also noted that the new “openness” policy of Uzbekistan provides a
chance for both countries to take advantage of mutual opportunities. Beijing has a huge
technological potential that is not inferior to European counterparts. At the same time, Tashkent
has serious potential opportunities, it is a high-quality, educated, relatively cheap labor and a
favorable investment climate.
The participants of the event noted that the implementation of the “Action Strategy” will be
a powerful impetus for the progressive development of not only Uzbekistan, but will also serve
peace, stability and prosperity of the entire Central Asian region. The current course of the
President further strengthens the country's position not only in Central Asia, but also in the
international arena as a promising and reliable partner. This dynamic opens up broad
opportunities for bringing Uzbek-Chinese relations to a qualitatively new level.
The cumulative investment in the framework of the “One belt, One Road” is estimated at
huge amounts: from 2 to 3.5 trillion dollars. Over the past five years, Chinese investment in the
countries that joined the initiative amounted to about 60 billion dollars. In the coming years,
Beijing plans to triple this amount, which opens up great prospects for all participants of the
project, including Uzbekistan.
According to the Chinese experts, the main task of “OBOR” is to redirect the flow of exports
of goods and capital to those countries which in recent years China began to actively develop
trade and economic cooperation with, primarily in the countries of Central Asia.
Uzbekistan remains interested in further strengthening and expanding multi-faceted
economic cooperation with China, especially in the non-raw-materials and technological sectors,
and attracting Chinese investment in priority manufacturing sectors of the economy.
Speech of the Party Secretary of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Yu Xinghue at the international conference "Uzbekistan and China:
prospects for the joint implementation of the" One Belt, One Road " initiative. May 14, 2018, Tashkent.
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